dependent

dependent — adjective

1. needing another person, thing, or system in order to stay alive, carry out daily

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

needing another person, thing, or system in order to stay alive, carry out daily tasks, or keep working properly

Example

After breaking his hip, Tariro was dependent on his daughter for shopping and cooking.

dependent on [someone] for [something]

Many small shops are dependent on summer tourists for most of their income.

Common collocations
  • dependent on/upon
  • dependent for
  • financially dependent
  • heavily dependent
  • entirely dependent
  • dependent on aid
  • dependent on care
Synonyms
  • reliant

    similar meaning but slightly less strong; suggests choice rather than necessity

  • needy

    more emotional tone, often describes people who require constant attention or help

  • supported by

    focuses on the source of help rather than the state of needing it

Antonyms
  • independent

    not needing support from others; able to function alone

Grammar Patterns

be dependent on/upon [someone/something] for [something]

Usage Note

Frequently used with the preposition 'on' (or less commonly 'upon'). The pattern 'dependent on someone for something' is the most common structure in everyday speech and writing.

Common Mistakes

The child is dependent to his mother.
The child is dependent on his mother.
'dependent' always takes 'on' or 'upon', never 'to'.

2. affected or controlled by a particular factor or condition, so that the final re

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

affected or controlled by a particular factor or condition, so that the final result changes when that factor changes

Example

Whether the school trip goes ahead is dependent on the weather forecast for next week.

be dependent on [condition] for decision

The amount of rent Walid pays each month is dependent on his total household income.

Common collocations
  • dependent on/upon
  • entirely dependent
  • directly dependent
  • partly dependent
  • dependent on the outcome
  • dependent on circumstances
Synonyms
  • contingent on

    more formal; common in legal, academic, or official language

  • conditional on

    implies a clear if-then relationship between two events

  • subject to

    suggests that the outcome is open to change based on external approval or conditions

Antonyms
  • independent of

    not affected by another factor; true regardless of circumstances

Grammar Patterns

be dependent on/upon [factor/clause]

Usage Note

Common in explanations where one thing is a condition for another. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply a personal need — the subject can be an event, decision, or abstract process.

Common Mistakes

The result is dependent of the weather.
The result is dependent on the weather.
Always use 'on' (or 'upon'), never 'of'.

3. having developed a strong physical or mental need for a substance such as a drug

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

having developed a strong physical or mental need for a substance such as a drug, alcohol, or medication, so that stopping its use causes serious problems

Example

After taking painkillers for several months, Lara found she had become dependent on them.

become dependent on [medication]

The rehabilitation centre helps people who are dependent on alcohol to rebuild their lives.

Common collocations
  • dependent on drugs
  • dependent on alcohol
  • physically dependent
  • chemically dependent
  • dependent on medication
  • become dependent
  • grow dependent
Synonyms
  • addicted to

    stronger and more informal; implies loss of control and harmful effects

  • hooked on

    very informal; used in everyday conversation

  • habituated to

    formal, clinical term; milder than addicted, suggests regular use without compulsion

Antonyms
  • clean

    informal; no longer using a substance

  • sober

    specifically not under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Grammar Patterns

become dependent on [substance]

dependent on [drug/alcohol/medication]

Usage Note

Often used in medical and public-health contexts. Stronger than 'reliant on' — implies a physical or psychological compulsion that makes stopping very difficult. The noun form 'dependence' is more common in clinical writing.

Common Mistakes

He is addicted on caffeine.
He is dependent on caffeine.
'dependent on' is the correct preposition pattern; 'addicted to' uses a different preposition.

4. in grammar, describing a group of words that is joined to a main clause and cann

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

in grammar, describing a group of words that is joined to a main clause and cannot form a complete sentence on its own — for example, 'although it was raining' in 'The match continued although it was raining'

Example

Samir asked if his sentence starting with 'although' was a dependent clause.

dependent clause identified in a classroom context

In 'I called Sari because I missed her,' the second part is a dependent clause.

Common collocations
  • dependent clause
  • dependent element
  • dependent word
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • independent clause

    a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence; also called a main clause

Grammar Patterns

dependent clause

dependent element

Usage Note

A technical term from grammar. Also called a 'subordinate clause'. The opposite is an 'independent clause' (or 'main clause'), which can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Common Mistakes

Because I was late. Is a dependent clause.
Because I was late is a dependent clause.
A dependent clause is a part of a sentence, not a full sentence itself.

dependent — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Dependent' and 'reliant' are the closest pair, but 'dependent' suggests that the person or thing cannot function without support, while 'reliant' often implies a choice or habit of relying on something. For example, a country can be 'reliant on oil exports' (actively choosing that economic strategy) or 'dependent on foreign aid' (needing it to survive). 'Needy' is more emotional and usually describes people who require constant attention or help, often in a personal-care context. 'Contingent' belongs to sense 2 (INFLUENCED BY) and is far more formal — you would say 'The payment is contingent upon delivery' in a contract but not 'My elderly mother is contingent on me.' Stick with 'dependent on' for everyday situations involving people who need practical help, and use 'reliant' when the relationship involves active choice or strategy.

reliant ↗dependent ↗needy ↗contingent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dependent children
  • dependent clause
  • dependent relative
  • dependent spouse
  • dependent variable

Adverbs

  • heavily dependent
  • entirely dependent
  • financially dependent
  • directly dependent
  • partly dependent
  • totally dependent
  • increasingly dependent

Phrases

  • dependent on circumstances
  • dependent on the outcome
  • dependent on aid

Prepositions

  • dependent on
  • dependent upon

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'dependēre', made up of 'de-' (down from) and 'pendēre' (to hang). Literally 'to hang from' — the image is of one thing hanging from another, so its position or survival relies on what is above it. This passed into Old French as 'dependant' and then into English around the 1500s. The physical sense of 'hanging down' (a dependent branch) appeared first, but by the 1600s the modern senses of needing support or being determined by something else had become dominant.