dependent
word
Definition
Needing someone or something else in order to function or survive; not independent. Also used to describe someone who relies financially or emotionally on another person.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Can describe family members ('tax dependent'), emotional reliance ('dependent on her support'), or substances ('dependent on coffee'). Often confused with 'dependant' (UK noun for a person who relies on another) or 'dependent' (adjective: the most common in US English). Phrasal forms: 'dependent on/upon'.
Example Sentences
The baby is dependent on her mother for food.
basic
Some plants are dependent on sunlight to live.
basic
He is dependent on his parents to pay for school.
basic
She became dependent on her phone for everything.
natural
The company's success is dependent on market trends.
natural
He's not as dependent on his family as he used to be.
natural