depended; depending; depends
1
: to be determined, based, or contingent (see contingent entry 1 sense 1)
life depends on food
the value of Y depends on X
2
: to be pending or undecided
matters of greatest moment were depending—
John Milton
John Milton3
a
: to place reliance or trust
you can depend on me
b
: to be dependent especially for financial support
Her family depends on her paycheck.
still depends on his parents
4
: to hang down
a star was depending from his neck—Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett
Examples of depend in a Sentence
whether or not we play baseball will depend on how much rain we get
I know I can always depend on you for help when I really need it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Whole fulfillment depends on this dedication to follow-up treatment.
—Ethan Stone, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
During their migration, monarchs depend on flowering plants and milkweed, often found on private land.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
In an increasingly multipolar era, U.S. leadership in Asia will depend not just on the United States’ own capabilities but also on the technological, military, diplomatic, and geographical advantages its allies bring to the table.
—Michael Green, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
But making good on his promises depends on the support of Congress.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for depend 
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Ethan Stone, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
During their migration, monarchs depend on flowering plants and milkweed, often found on private land.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
In an increasingly multipolar era, U.S. leadership in Asia will depend not just on the United States’ own capabilities but also on the technological, military, diplomatic, and geographical advantages its allies bring to the table.
—Michael Green, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
But making good on his promises depends on the support of Congress.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for depend
Dictionary Entries Near depend
Cite this Entry
“Depend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depend. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
depend
verb
de·pend
di-ˈpend 
1
: to be determined by or based on
success of the picnic will depend on the weather
2
: trust entry 2 sense 1a, rely
a person you can depend on
3
: to rely for support
children depend on their parents
4
: to hang down
a vine depending from a tree
Etymology
Middle English dependen "to exist or result from some other condition," from early French dependre (same meaning), derived from Latin dependēre "to hang down, hang from," from de- "from, down" and pendēre "to hang" — related to pendulum, perpendicular
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