Standard Lemma guide

dependable

adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: [dɪˈpɛndəbəɫ]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 P EH1 N D AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Able, or easily able to be depended on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was a very dependable person.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A reliable person or thing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

worthy of reliance or trust

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a reliable source of information
  • a dependable worker

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reliable

Antonyms: undependable

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

financially sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a good investment
  • a secure investment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: good, safe, secure

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

consistent in performance or behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • dependable in one's habits
  • a steady-going family man

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rock-steady, steady-going

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

worthy of being depended on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a dependable worker
  • an honest working stiff
  • a reliable sourcSFLe of information
  • he was true to his word
  • I would be true for there are those who trust me

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: honest, reliable, true(p)

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English depend Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English dependable From depend + -able.

Across languages

Translations

50 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: надзе́йны (nadzjéjny) — able to be depended on
  • Bulgarian: надежден (nadežden) — able to be depended on
  • Bulgarian: непоколебим (nepokolebim) — able to be depended on
  • Bulgarian: сигурен (siguren) — able to be depended on
  • Catalan: acèrrim — able to be depended on
  • Catalan: fiable — able to be depended on
  • Czech: spolehlivý — able to be depended on
  • Danish: pålidelig — able to be depended on
  • Danish: driftsikker — able to be depended on
  • Dutch: betrouwbaar — able to be depended on
  • Finnish: luotettava — able to be depended on
  • Finnish: vankkumaton — able to be depended on
  • French: fiable — able to be depended on
  • German: ausdauernd — able to be depended on
  • German: beharrlich — able to be depended on
  • German: verlässlich — able to be depended on
  • German: zuverlässig — able to be depended on
  • Hebrew: מהימן — able to be depended on
  • Ido: ferma — able to be depended on
  • Italian: affidabile — able to be depended on
  • Italian: fermo — able to be depended on
  • Latin: fīdus — able to be depended on
  • Macedonian: доверлив (doverliv) — able to be depended on
  • Malay: kuat — able to be depended on
  • Manx: barrantagh — able to be depended on
  • Māori: hākirikiri — able to be depended on
  • Māori: horopū — able to be depended on
  • Māori: ngākau pono — able to be depended on
  • Māori: titikaha — able to be depended on
  • Māori: tōmau — able to be depended on
  • Norwegian Bokmål: trofast — able to be depended on
  • Occitan: fisable — able to be depended on
  • Polish: niezawodny — able to be depended on
  • Portuguese: confiável — able to be depended on
  • Portuguese: forte — able to be depended on
  • Romanian: fiabil — able to be depended on
  • Russian: надёжный (nadjóžnyj) — able to be depended on
  • Sanskrit: दृढ (dṛḍha) — able to be depended on
  • Scottish Gaelic: seasmhach — able to be depended on
  • Spanish: fiable — able to be depended on
  • Spanish: firme — able to be depended on
  • Spanish: dependible — able to be depended on
  • Swedish: pålitlig — able to be depended on
  • Swedish: ståndaktig — able to be depended on
  • Turkish: güvenilir — able to be depended on
  • Turkish: itimada şayan — able to be depended on
  • Turkish: itimat edilir — able to be depended on
  • Ukrainian: наді́йний (nadíjnyj) — able to be depended on
  • Uyghur: پۇختا (puxta) — able to be depended on
  • Māori: pouwhirinaki — a person who can be relied upon