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
The news arrives as Tesla’s long-term prospects may increasingly depend on the success of its robotaxi strategy.
—
Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025
Many Republican voters may not realize just how much their communities (especially rural ones) depend on Medicaid to keep hospitals open and doctors in town.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
A lot of the market is waiting for a resolution here because other project sales depend on it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 June 2025
The effect of tariffs on inflation is less clear and could depend on if, and how, the European Union strikes back, policymakers have said.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for depend on/upon
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Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025
Many Republican voters may not realize just how much their communities (especially rural ones) depend on Medicaid to keep hospitals open and doctors in town.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
A lot of the market is waiting for a resolution here because other project sales depend on it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 June 2025
The effect of tariffs on inflation is less clear and could depend on if, and how, the European Union strikes back, policymakers have said.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 11 Jun. 2025.
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