depends - Master This Word
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depends Word Meanings
- to rely on something
- to be contingent upon
- to be influenced by
depends Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
depends Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/dɪˈpɛnd/
US
/dɪˈpɛnd/
depends Word Etymology
de- = down/from + pend = hang. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a pendulum hanging down, swaying back and forth, illustrating how something can be dependent or influenced by external factors.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place my hand on a creaking railing and let my weight settle. I shift my stance, tighten my grip, and adjust my frame as the floor sways. A small decision forms: I realize I depend on that thin bar to hold me up, so I breathe, steady myself, and push forward. In real life, that tiny moment repeats whenever I lean on someone or something to carry me through.
Real Context
Think of depend as a hinge that connects actions or outcomes to something outside your control. In English you depend on people for help, information, or support, and you depend on conditions for decisions—for example, a plan that depends on the weather. We say it depends on or upon something, and we often use it with on after a noun or pronoun. The word can also describe influence, as in strategies that depend on customer reactions. Learners often confuse depend with rely; remember that depend emphasizes contingency and external factors, while rely stresses trust or reliance on a person.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: depend is about contingency; use on/upon for the factor; avoid mixing with rely; it depends on; noun + depends on; preposition matters.
Common Misconceptions
- Depend and rely are interchangeable in all contexts.
- You can say depend of someone; it should be depend on someone.
- It depends on weather, but also on people; mix with most verbs.
- Using depend without a preposition after the object is wrong.
- Confusing 'depend' with 'depend on' in complex clauses.
Thinking Differences
Explains how English frames dependence as a link to external factors; learners should note the common preposition 'on' and the nuance between contingency vs reliance on a person.
Learning Tips
- Practice with at least 6 sentences using depend on various nouns.
- Compare depend with rely to see nuance.
- Use it to express contingency in plans.
- Notice how it pairs with weather, conditions, or people.
- Create flashcards for common collocations with on/upon.
- Read/watch examples in authentic contexts.
Related Listening
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