depend on/upon

phrasal verb

depended on/upon; depending on/upon; depends on/upon

1

: to be determined or decided by (something)

We're not sure if we'll have the picnic. It depends on the weather.

"Will you go back to college?" "I don't know. It depends on whether or not I can afford it."

The stamp's value depends on how rare it is.

Depending upon your child's weight and height, she or he may have to sit in the back seat of the car.

2

: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc.

He no longer depends on his parents for money.

They depend heavily/largely/solely/entirely on her income to pay the bills.

3

: to be sure about (someone or something) : to trust (someone or something)

The manufacturer promises quality you can depend on.

She will be remembered as a woman upon whom people could depend.

—sometimes used humorously

I can always depend on it to rain on days when I forget my umbrella.

Examples of depend on/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Higher costs for car production could pose a challenge for U.S. automakers, many of which depend on a supply chain closely intertwined with Mexico and Canada. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2025

Now, both Fowler and Spieth depend on their performance in the Cognizant Classic to secure a place in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

According to Nieves’ estimates, 14 independent Cuban news outlets depend on foreign aid. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

Hamrick, the economic analyst, said any visible impact from large-scale boycott campaigns would most likely require more consistency — which is difficult to achieve when many people in the United States depend on chain corporations for their daily purchases. —Angela Yang, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2025