Depend Meaning
/dɪˈpɛnd/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
verbTo trust; to have confidence; to rely.
Sentence Examples
You can depend on his help.
You mustn't depend on others for help.
You must not depend so much on others.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The success of our project will ____ on how well the team collaborates.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You can ____ on his help.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre and Latin dependeō, from Latin dē- + pendeō (“to hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Gold don't carry any curse with it. It all depends on whether or not the guy who finds it is the right guy. The way I see it, gold can be as much of a blessing as a curse"
— 1948, John Huston, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, spoken by Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart):
""It's another wedding present, you may depend," Dicky said—"a beastly surprise, I shouldn't wonder.""
— 1904, E[dith] Nesbit, “(please specify the page)”, in New Treasure Seekers, London: Ernest Benn, →OCLC:
"The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows."
— 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:
"In the centre is an Imperial Crown, from which depend a Harp of gold and the Badge."
— 1893, John Edwin Cussen (1837–1899), Handbook of Heraldry, 4th edition, London: Chatto & Windus, Piccadilly, via Internet Archive (UC Berkeley), page 247:
"Bronze chandeliers with many globes depended from the low, slightly vaulted ceiling, and the fresco paintings ran flat and dull all round the walls without windows, representing scenes of the chase and of outdoor revelry in medieval costumes."
— 1907, Joseph Conrad, The Secret Agent:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The success of our project will ____ on how well the team collaborates.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You can ____ on his help.