First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
depend
verb de·pend \di-ˈpend\
—used in speech in phrases like it depends and that depends to say that the answer to a question will be different in different situations
Full Definition of DEPEND
intransitive verb
1
: to be determined, based, or contingent <life depends on food> <the value of Y depends on X>
2
: to be pending or undecided
3
a : to place reliance or trust <you can depend on me> b : to be dependent especially for financial support
4
: to hang down
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Origin of DEPEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French dependre, modification of Latin dependēre, from de- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant
Rhymes with DEPEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
DEPEND Defined for Kids
depend
verb de·pend \di-ˈpend\
de·pend·edde·pend·ing
Definition of DEPEND for Kids
: to be subject to determination by the situation <Are you going to the party? I don't know. It depends.>
— depend on
Word Root of DEPEND
The Latin word pendere, meaning “to cause to hang down,” gives us the root pend. Words from the Latin pendere have something to do with hanging. To suspend is to cause something to hang down from a single point. To depend is to hang, or rely, on the support of others. A pendant is an ornament that hangs free, as on a necklace. A pendulum is an object hung from a point that swings freely back and forth, as in a clock.
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