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

And foods that depend on being cooked just right, like scallops and filet, are indeed just right. —Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

But whatever plans ultimately form will all depend on who wins that necklace. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024

Do not depend on the accuracy of caller ID.Your caller ID could show up as a Medicare number that has been faked. —Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 19 Nov. 2024

Luckily, this round doesn’t depend on the captains alone. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024