də̇ˈpend, dēˈ- intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English dependen, from Middle French dependre to hang down, be contingent or conditioned, modification of Latin dependēre, from de- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant
1. : to be contingent:
a. : to require something as a necessary condition — used with on or upon
we depend on food to keep us alive
his life depends on his undergoing an operation
the merit of his piece depended on the brilliant things which arose under his pen as he went along — Matthew Arnold
b. : to become conditioned or based (as by subjection or relatedness) — used with on or upon
sciences depend on one another
prices depend upon supply and demand
2.
a. : to hang in suspense : be pending or undecided
matters of greatest moment were depending — John Milton
b. obsolete : to wait in suspense
c. obsolete : to be imminent : impend
3. : to have a connection or relationship as a subordinate part or appurtenance — used with on or upon
4.
a. : to trust, rely, or place belief or hope often without alternate recourse — used with on or upon
depend on a friend for help
depend on a parent for funds
depend on your skill or wisdom to get one out of trouble
b. : to be dependent especially for support — used with on or upon
small children necessarily depend on parents
5. : to hang down : be held up by being attached to something above
a star was depending from his neck — Arnold Bennett
crimson plush curtains intricate with tiny plush balls depending — T.W.Duncan
Synonyms:
hang , hinge , turn : depend is the general term to indicate a contingent relationship involving existence, nature, or characteristics
the future of the American university depends primarily on keeping a proper balance between these four traditional elements of strength — J.B.Conant
the conviction that winning the best satisfactions of later life will depend on possessing this power to think — C.W.Eliot
hang may refresh the now faded metaphor explicit in the etymology of depend
a good deal … hangs on the meaning, if any, of this short word full — T.S.Eliot
the Crewe of today — a borough whose life no longer hangs on railway prosperity — Times Literary Supplement
hinge may suggest resting on a cardinal or pivotal point, with a decisive swing in one direction or another as imminent
on the outcome of the motion to dismiss the indictment … hinge issues of fundamental importance — Nation
turn may be less vivid in suggesting a cardinal point
our continued backing of Chiang Kai-shek, and therefore his future, turn on the reactions of the conference committee — New Republic
These words are completely interchangeable except in the few sentences in which unusual attention is paid to the implications of the metaphors involved.
Synonym: see in addition rely .