# depend

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈpɛnd/ · frequency rank #5,119

## Definitions
1. To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
2. To trust; to have confidence; to rely.
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.
4. To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.
5. To cause to be contingent or dependent on; to set as a necessity.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **doped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depend-vs-doped)
- **depends** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depend-vs-depends)
- **descend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depend-vs-descend)
- **depended** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depend-vs-depended)
- **deed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deed-vs-depend)
- **deen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deen-vs-depend)
- **demand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/demand-vs-depend)
- **defend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defend-vs-depend)
- **decent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-depend)
- **deepen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deepen-vs-depend)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddepend`, `deepnd`, `depedn`, `dependd`, `depennd`, `depned`, `deppend`, `dpeend`, `edpend`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/depend