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 humorouslyI 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 both markets depend on each other for different input.
—
Liza Foreman, Variety, 26 Sep. 2023
Small businesses that depend on the entertainment industry also suffered.
—Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Congress must live up to its responsibility to all those who depend on the program, providing sufficient funding in a continuing resolution to ensure no one is turned away from WIC in the short term and full funding in a year-end spending package to support WIC's critical mission moving forward.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2023
Being able to depend upon an agreement that is properly made with one’s spouse is important.
—Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Choosing between a wall or ceiling mount will depend on what is possible for the projector (some come with specific mounts) and personal preference based on the design of your space.
—L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Commercial real estate is suffering, municipal taxes are declining, and the viability of businesses that depend on intense footfall–from barbers to baristas–is being undermined.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
Do not leave an infant or child alone with a digital thermometer, which may be a choking hazard.14
Fever Symptoms
Fever symptoms typically depend on how high your body temperature is, Matthew Mintz, MD, an internist based in Maryland, told Health.
—Leah Groth, Health, 20 Sep. 2023
But the success of the cease-fire may depend on talks Thursday on fully reintegrating the region and its population into Azerbaijan, outlined on Wednesday by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
See More
Liza Foreman, Variety, 26 Sep. 2023
Small businesses that depend on the entertainment industry also suffered.
—Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Congress must live up to its responsibility to all those who depend on the program, providing sufficient funding in a continuing resolution to ensure no one is turned away from WIC in the short term and full funding in a year-end spending package to support WIC's critical mission moving forward.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2023
Being able to depend upon an agreement that is properly made with one’s spouse is important.
—Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Choosing between a wall or ceiling mount will depend on what is possible for the projector (some come with specific mounts) and personal preference based on the design of your space.
—L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Commercial real estate is suffering, municipal taxes are declining, and the viability of businesses that depend on intense footfall–from barbers to baristas–is being undermined.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
Do not leave an infant or child alone with a digital thermometer, which may be a choking hazard.14
Fever Symptoms
Fever symptoms typically depend on how high your body temperature is, Matthew Mintz, MD, an internist based in Maryland, told Health.
—Leah Groth, Health, 20 Sep. 2023
But the success of the cease-fire may depend on talks Thursday on fully reintegrating the region and its population into Azerbaijan, outlined on Wednesday by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depend on/upon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near depend on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Depend on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depend%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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