depend — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   hinge onridepivot

   Examples

   We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow.

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   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

   There's not much room for error in the unforgiving Arctic wilderness, where hunters' lives depend on skill, experience, and a buddy's helping hand.

2. To trust; to have confidence; to rely.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   we should all be able to depend on the word or assurance of our friends

   we depend on the mailman to come at the usual time.

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   "It's another wedding present, you may depend," Dicky said—"a beastly surprise, I shouldn't wonder."

3. To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above, especially in heraldry, where a badge, decoration, or element is suspended from another part of an achievement of arms.

   Usage

   • Literary

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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.

   In the centre is an Imperial Crown, from which depend a Harp of gold and the Badge.

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   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.

   He had prepared a sort of collar of leather with many straps depending from it.

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   Besides, if you worked up to be a cadet officer, you got to wear a Sam Browne belt, from which depended a nifty saber.

   At the wedding feast of Agnes and Bob, all was meant for the best, and there was grewat good humour, but there was also a stiffness, a constraint. It did not touch them: Agnes was radiant in a gown of white silksand laces which would not have disgraced the Castle itself, her fair hair bound and coiled after the fashion of that year, and wearing her father's special gift to her, a necklace of interwoven gold and silver from which depended a fiery stone, intricately cut, and housed within elaborate gold, thin-hammered.

4. To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   a cause depending in court

   While the Bishops Affair was depending, the King sent orders [...]

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   In perjury, the capias, warrant, and affidavit, are good evidence that a cause was depending.

   "A Letter of the King sent to his Proctors at Rome, concerning a Case of his in the said Court depending."

5. To cause to be contingent or dependent on; to set as a necessity.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   There he wilted, obviously depending the disposal of his person and his plight on Bradly, and expecting that to be done at once, too.

Verb

1. be contingent upon (something that is elided)

   Broader terms

   necessitateaskpostulateneedrequiretakeinvolvecall fordemand

   Examples

   That depends

2. have faith or confidence in

   Synonyms

   countbetswearrelybanklookcalculatereckon

   Broader terms

   trust

   Examples

   you can count on me to help you any time

   Look to your friends for support

   More examples (2)

   You can bet on that!

   Depend on your family in times of crisis