Verbs for Dependency and Association · Verbs: Existence Action

to develop something using certain facts, ideas, situations, etc.

"Base your decision on evidence."

"The movie is based on a true story about a soldier who saved many lives during the war."

to use something as a basis for further development

"We can build on this success."

"The young athlete hopes to build on her recent success at the national championships and qualify for the Olympic team next year."

to serve as the foundation or primary cause for something

"Deep beliefs underlie his political decisions."

"The basic principles that underlie the scientific method include observation hypothesis testing and careful analysis of results."

to be based on or related with different things that are possible

"Success depends on effort."

"The success of the project will depend on the team's ability to collaborate effectively and meet all deadlines."

to achieve success or progress based on the outcome of a particular situation or circumstance

"Success rides on careful planning."

"The outcome of the election rides on whether undecided voters choose to support the current candidate or the challenger."

to financially survive by depending on someone or something else

"They live off the land entirely."

"He tried to live off his savings for a year while he wrote his novel but the money ran out quickly."

(of an outcome, decision, or situation) to depend entirely on a particular factor or set of circumstances

"The decision hinges on the test results."

"The outcome of the entire trial could hinge on the testimony of a single key witness."

to have as a foundation or to be based on a particular idea, concept, principle, or condition

"The theory rests on flawed assumptions."

"The entire case rests on the testimony of a single witness so we need to make sure she is credible."

to put trust in something or someone

"You can count on me for help."

"You can always count on me for help whenever you need it because that is what friends are for."

to be applicable, connected, or relevant to a particular subject, circumstance, or situation

"The documents pertain to the case."

"The documents that pertain to the court case are confidential and cannot be viewed by the public until after the trial has concluded."

to build something upon a certain foundation or principle, or to use it as a starting point for further growth or development

"Base your argument on solid facts."

"The scientist based his conclusions on data collected from more than ten thousand patients over five years."

to require someone or something for support, maintenance, help, etc.

"We depend on rain."

"The entire community will depend on the successful harvest for their survival through the long winter."

to be closely connected or have mutual effects

"Smoking correlates with several lung diseases."

"The study found that high levels of stress correlate with an increased risk of heart disease among middle aged adults."

to depend on someone or something for support and assistance

"I rely on you."

"As a new student, she had to rely on her classmates for guidance and support during the initial adjustment period."

to rely on something, such as a wall, for physical support or stability

"Lean on me."

"The old man had to lean on his walking stick for stability as he climbed the steep stairs."

to make a connection between someone or something and another in the mind

"People associate dark clouds with rain."

"Most people associate the color red with love and passion but it can also symbolize danger and anger."

to establish a logical or causal relationship between ideas, events, or concepts

"Connect the dots."

"It is important to connect the seemingly unrelated events to understand the underlying cause of the phenomenon."

to make or show a logical connection between two things

"His story relates to our situation."

"I can easily relate to his story because I had a very similar experience when I was young."

to be related to a particular situation or topic

"How does this bear on our discussion?"

"The new evidence bears directly on the question of whether the defendant is guilty or innocent of the crime."

to relate or assign a feature or quality to something or someone

"Attribute this to luck."

"Scientists often attribute the remarkable success of the experiment to a combination of careful planning and serendipity."