dependable
gb/dɪpˈɛndəbəl/ us/dɪpˈɛndəbəl/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
reliable and can be trusted
You can trust a dependable person.
Usage pattern:
a dependable [person/worker/friend]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse dependable (reliable) with dependent (needing help). Also, say dependable for/at/in (e.g., dependable for help), not *dependable of*.
Synonyms
reliable (Most direct synonym; neutral and very common.)
|
trustworthy (Emphasizes honesty and deserving trust.)
|
steady (Suggests calm consistency over time.)
Antonyms
unreliable (Cannot be counted on to do what is needed.)
|
untrustworthy (Not deserving trust, especially about honesty.)
Collocations
dependable friend
|dependable person
|dependable employee
|dependable colleague
|dependable partner
|dependable babysitter
|dependable team member
|dependable support
|dependable worker
|dependable neighbor
Themes
relationships
|work
|daily_life
Examples
- Maya is dependable—you can always count on her to show up on time.
- We need someone dependable to manage the keys and lock up at night.
- He’s a dependable friend who checks in when things get tough.
Learner examples
- My brother is very dependable.
- She is dependable at work.
adjective
B1
property
2
works well without breaking
A dependable thing works well and usually does not stop working.
Usage pattern:
a dependable [car/service/system]
Common mistake:
For machines and services, dependable describes performance over time (not just one success).
Synonyms
reliable (General term for working as expected.)
|
robust (Suggests strong design that handles stress well.)
|
sturdy (Emphasizes physical strength and durability.)
Antonyms
unreliable (Often fails or does not work as expected.)
|
faulty (Has defects that cause it to malfunction.)
Collocations
dependable car
|dependable vehicle
|dependable internet
|dependable connection
|dependable service
|dependable performance
|dependable equipment
|dependable technology
|dependable heating system
|dependable transportation
Themes
technology
|transport
|daily_life
|business
Examples
- They make dependable cars that can handle long commutes.
- We switched providers because we needed more dependable internet.
- This model has a reputation for being dependable in cold weather.
Learner examples
- I want a dependable car.
- The service is dependable.
adjective
B2
property
3
likely to be accurate
Dependable information is information you can trust.
Usage pattern:
dependable [information/data/evidence/source]
Common mistake:
Dependable is common with source/data/evidence; for people, trustworthy may sound more natural when focusing on honesty.
Synonyms
credible (Emphasizes being believable, often in public or academic contexts.)
|
reliable (Emphasizes consistency and accuracy over time.)
|
sound (Suggests good reasoning or solid basis.)
Antonyms
dubious (Not likely to be true; questionable.)
|
untrustworthy (Not deserving trust; likely to mislead or be wrong.)
Collocations
dependable source
|dependable information
|dependable data
|dependable evidence
|dependable figures
|dependable statistics
|dependable estimates
|dependable results
|dependable reports
|dependable measurements
Themes
education
|news
|business
Examples
- The article quotes several dependable sources.
- We don’t have dependable data on how many people were affected.
- They produced dependable estimates using records from the last five years.
Learner examples
- Is this a dependable source?
- We need dependable information.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dependable
IPA
GB/dɪpˈɛndəbəl/
US/dɪpˈɛndəbəl/
Syllables & stress
de - pend - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pend)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dependable
Word family
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
interdependent
adjective
interdependence
noun
Expressions
as dependable as clockwork
1/ˈæz dɪpˈɛndəbəl ˈæz klˈɑkwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
extremely reliable and regular
Very reliable, like a clock that always works.
Examples
- The bus is as dependable as clockwork—every day it arrives at 8:10.
- Her weekly update is as dependable as clockwork.
- He calls his parents every Sunday, as dependable as clockwork.