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

So a lot of it's going to depend on the details and what is actually in it in terms of what's required for approval. —CBS News, 20 Apr. 2025

And for those who depend on produce and other items from China, the astronomical tariffs on Chinese goods will have an even greater impact. —Allison Cho, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025

Perhaps not immediately, but players like Apple heavily depend on imports for its products, with 90% of its iPhone assembly based in China. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

The timing and decision to make the units apartments or condos will depend on market demand, the developers have said. —Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025