depend on/upon

phrasal verb

depended on/upon; depending on/upon; depends on/upon

: 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.

: 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.

: 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 The treatment approach could also depend on how quickly someone wants their acne to clear up. —

Colleen Murphy, Health, 16 May 2024 However, the viability of the new Bally’s could depend on revenue from agreements with three major distributors: DirecTV, Charter and Comcast. —

Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024 Speaking to attendees at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women dinner on Tuesday in New York, Carroll, who won $83.3 million in defamation damages against Trump in January, said that the outcome of the upcoming presidential election may depend on the women’s vote. —

Ellie Austin, Fortune, 15 May 2024 Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. —

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2024 Like Lincoln and the Republicans in 1864, the fate of America may depend on it. —

TIME, 15 May 2024 For example, the cost of a wool coat would depend on the calories needed to raise the sheep, shear the wool, sew the garment, transport it to market and so on. —

Michelle Stacey, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024 Officials said the exact timing of the demolition will depend on weather and other operational factors. —

Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 9 May 2024 Whether that’s Pivya or another option could depend on your insurance and the availability of the drug. —

Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 8 May 2024

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.

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“Depend on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depend%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 20 May. 2024.

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