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

Whether the next Democratic administration similarly staffs itself with alumni from the Biden administration will largely depend on which assessment of the president’s policies prevails within the party. —Andrew Exum, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2025

What exactly that defense will look like will depend on whom Johnson hires to be his defensive coordinator. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025

The amount of snowfall in each region will depend on its elevation with Fairbanks getting lower amounts of snow. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

Boohoo’s next chapter will depend on its willingness to act decisively and innovate. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025