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Definition of depend verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

depend

verb
 
/dɪˈpend/
 
/dɪˈpend/
Word Originlate Middle English originally meaning ‘to hang down’; (also in the sense ‘wait or be in suspense’): from Old French dependre, from Latin dependere, from de- ‘down’ + pendere ‘hang’.
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they depend
 
/dɪˈpend/
 
/dɪˈpend/
he / she / it depends
 
/dɪˈpendz/
 
/dɪˈpendz/
past simple depended
 
/dɪˈpendɪd/
 
/dɪˈpendɪd/
past participle depended
 
/dɪˈpendɪd/
 
/dɪˈpendɪd/
-ing form depending
 
/dɪˈpendɪŋ/
 
/dɪˈpendɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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Idioms
depending on
 
  1. according to
    • Starting salary varies from £26 000 to £30 500, depending on experience.
    • He either resigned or was sacked, depending on who you talk to.
that depends | it (all) depends
 
  1. used to say that you are not certain about something because other things have to be considered
    • ‘Is he coming?’ ‘That depends. He may not have the time.’
    • I don't know if we can help—it all depends.
    • I might not go. It depends how tired I am.
    • ‘Your job sounds fun.’ ‘It depends what you mean by “fun”.’
    • I shouldn't be too late. But it depends if the traffic's bad.
    Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintya2
See depend in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee depend in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
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