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

Conclusion As enterprises continue to adopt AI technologies, success will depend on their ability to balance innovation with practical considerations of security, cost and maintainability. —Meghana Puvvadi, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Its evolution can teach managers how to deal with innovations that depend on multiple slow-developing technologies that come together at different speeds and costs. —Tucker J. Marion, david Deeds, john H. Friar, Harvard Business Review, 14 Jan. 2025

While individual laws address specific risks, their success will depend on consistent enforcement and integration with broader societal efforts to reduce violence. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

While a once-a-week watering schedule is a good rule of thumb, the correct amount of water and frequency of watering depend on factors such as air temperature, humidity, the amount of light the plant receives, and the type of soil it’s planted in. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025