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

Much will depend on the details of how Google implements Remix and how Google Photos curates these AI videos alongside our genuine photos and videos. —Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025

And tariffs — so far, a wildly moving target — are already crimping the economies of states that depend on international commerce. —Scott Cohn, CNBC, 12 July 2025

A lot does depend on the care but in the average neighborhood many older ligustrum have dead limbs and declining trunks. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2025

Much will depend on whether Hamas and Islamic Jihad are willing to transition from violent resistance to political engagement. —Daoud Kuttab, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025