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

The time required to notice improvement may depend on the device and the manufacturer’s guidelines. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2024

Europe's ability to compete globally will depend on adopting a financial system designed for the 21st century. —Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Temu's growth does not depend on the de minimis policy. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 13 Sep. 2024

However the potential effects depend on how much arsenic is actually in the food, the age of the person consuming it, and the frequency of exposure to it.4 Inorganic arsenic, which is what is involved in this recall, is more dangerous to humans than organic arsenic. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 Sep. 2024