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

Brand partnerships depend on visibility and performance, and both are usually diminished during recovery periods. —Roy Ward, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Heat waves exacerbate seagrass decline by impacting water quality and the oxygen the plants depend on, said Koch, who has been studying seagrasses in the tropics for two decades. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025

These tests will likely test for digestive enzymes, stomach acid production, H. pylori, and parietal cell antibodies.417 Treatments for Atrophic Gastritis Treatment plans will often depend on the underlying cause of your condition—whether that's an H. pylori infection or an autoimmune reaction. —Sayaka Blickenderfer, Health, 28 June 2025

Access to water should not depend on the ability to purchase it from the bottled water industry that continues to profit from a basic human need. —Rachel Bustamante, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2025