Reading Theme:
Dependent Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：needing support (dependent)
dependent
/dɪˈpendənt/
adj.
Needing someone or something else for support or to survive, like a baby needing its parents.
needing support
➕
/ˈniːdɪŋ səˈpɔːrt/
adj.
Describes a state where someone or something relies on another for essential needs or functions.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Latin: de- 'down' + pendere 'hang' + -ent, meaning 'hanging from' or 'relying on'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a baby hanging down from parents' arms: DE-PEND-ent = down-hang, needing support.
📖 Example
A newborn baby is completely dependent on its parents for food and care.
A newborn baby relies entirely on its parents for food and care.
🔗 Collocations
dependent on – relying on someone or something
dependent upon – same as 'dependent on', often used in formal contexts
dependent variable – in experiments, the outcome that changes based on the independent variable
🔄 Synonyms
reliant (adj.) – needing something or someone to function or succeed
conditional (adj.) – depending on a particular condition or situation
contingent (adj.) – dependent on something else that may or may not happen
🚫 Antonyms
independent (adj.) – not needing support from others; self-reliant
self-sufficient (adj.) – able to provide for oneself without outside help
autonomous (adj.) – having the freedom to govern oneself or act independently
🌱 Derivatives
dependence (n.) – the state of relying on someone or something
dependency (n.) – a region or thing that is controlled by another; also a state of being dependent
independently (adv.) – in a way that is not influenced or controlled by others
📖 Cultural Story
Originating from Latin 'dependere' (hang down), used in 16th century for financial or social reliance. In modern English, common in legal and scientific contexts to indicate conditional relationships.
Meaning 2：determined by (dependent)
dependent
/dɪˈpendənt/
adj.
Determined by something else; the result will change if that thing changes.
determined by
➕
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd baɪ/
adj.
Indicates that one thing is controlled or influenced by another; a change in the second causes a change in the first.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Whether we have a picnic tomorrow is dependent on the weather forecast.
Whether we hold the picnic tomorrow depends on the weather forecast.
🔗 Collocations
dependent on – determined or influenced by something
dependent upon – same as 'dependent on', often used in formal writing
dependent variable – in science, the factor that is measured and affected by changes in the independent variable
🔄 Synonyms
conditional (adj.) – subject to one or more conditions or requirements
contingent (adj.) – dependent on something that is not certain to happen
subject to (adj. phrase) – likely to be affected by something, especially if it occurs
🚫 Antonyms
independent (adj.) – not influenced or determined by anything else
unconditional (adj.) – not subject to any conditions; absolute
absolute (adj.) – not dependent on or limited by anything else
🌱 Derivatives
dependence (n.) – the state of being determined by something else
dependency (n.) – a thing that is dependent on something else
dependent (n.) – a person who relies on another for financial support
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser