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 longevity of specific Trump tariffs may depend upon the responses of businesses and foreign governments. —Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

The group warns the tariffs threaten around 35,000 jobs and could devastate entire towns that depend on citrus farming. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Other Considerations Your daily protein needs depend on factors like your body size, health goals, and activity levels. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 8 Apr. 2025

Surgical masks, which were so important during and after the pandemic, are emblematic of the fragile international supply chain of medical devices that our hospitals depend upon. —Robert Glatter and Peter Papadakos, Time, 8 Apr. 2025