dependent
B1 (Intermediate)Formal to neutral; widely used in academic, legal, administrative, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Requiring someone or something for financial, emotional, or practical support; unable to exist or function without something else.
In grammar, a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence; in mathematics, a variable whose value is determined by another; in computing, a component or library required for a program to function.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a neutral or factual connotation when describing systems or logic, but can carry a slightly negative connotation (implying lack of autonomy) when describing people in social contexts. The noun form 'dependant' (UK) / 'dependent' (US) refers specifically to a person who relies on another for financial support.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK often uses 'dependant' for the noun and 'dependent' for the adjective. US uses 'dependent' for both. Usage frequency of the noun form is higher in legal/financial contexts.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The phrase 'drug-dependent' is more clinical in UK English; 'dependent on drugs' is more common in general US English.
Frequency
The adjective is high-frequency in both. The noun is medium-frequency, more common in official forms (taxes, insurance).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be dependent on/upon [noun/gerund]become dependent on/uponremain dependent on/uponmake [object] dependent on/uponVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A small business is often dependent on the health of the local economy.”
- “He's on the wagon now, but was dependent on the bottle for years.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to variables, market factors, or resources a project requires to succeed.
Academic
Describes the relationship between variables in research or the subordinate status of a grammatical clause.
Everyday
Used for personal reliance, e.g., on technology, family, or public transport.
Technical
In programming, a 'dependency'; in logic, a 'dependent clause'; in statistics, the 'dependent variable'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The success of the venture will depend on securing adequate funding.
- It depends whether the manager approves the plan.
American English
- The success of the venture depends on securing adequate funding.
- It depends on whether the manager approves the plan.
adverb
British English
- He spoke dependently, always looking to his superior for approval.
- (Rarely used; 'reliantly' or 'in a dependent manner' is often preferred.)
American English
- She acted dependently, unable to make a decision without consulting the committee.
- (Rarely used; 'in a dependent way' is more common.)
adjective
British English
- The young badgers remain dependent on their mother for several more months.
- The country is dangerously dependent on imported energy.
American English
- The young raccoons stay dependent on their mother for several more months.
- The state is dangerously dependent on federal grants.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children are dependent on their parents.
- I am dependent on my phone for directions.
- The region's economy is heavily dependent on tourism.
- She became financially dependent after leaving her job.
- The experiment's outcome is entirely dependent on controlling the temperature variable.
- His recovery is dependent upon him sticking to the therapy regimen.
- The legal argument is clever but ultimately dependent on a precedent that may be overturned.
- A complex web of mutually dependent ecosystems characterizes the rainforest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PENdent (a hanging ornament) that is attached and hanging FROM something else. It is DEPENdent on the chain.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS A FOUNDATION ("Her argument is dependent on shaky premises.") | CONTROL IS HOLDING ("He is dependent on his medication.")
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'dependent' for temporary reliance like 'depending on weather' – use 'it depends'. The Russian 'зависимый' maps directly to 'dependent' for addiction or deep reliance, but not for casual conditions.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dependant/dependent' as a verb (correct verb is 'depend'). Confusing 'dependent on' with 'depending on' (the former is an adjective phrase, the latter introduces a clause). Misspelling as 'dependant' in US English for all forms.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'dependent' used correctly as a noun (US English)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In UK English, 'dependant' is the noun for a person, and 'dependent' is the adjective. In US English, 'dependent' is used for both.
Both are correct and interchangeable. 'On' is more common in everyday language, while 'upon' can sound slightly more formal or literary.
Typically, it is neutral or negative (implying lack of autonomy). In systems theory or biology, 'interdependent' is used for positive, mutual reliance.
It is the outcome or response that is measured in an experiment; it 'depends' on changes made to the independent variable.
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