depend on

USAGE SUMMARY

"depend on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used to refer to something being contingent on the occurrence or non-occurrence of something else. For example: "Whether or not we go to the beach this weekend will depend on the weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I depend on them".

The New York Times

Many depend on imports.

The Economist

"You depend on it.

The New York Times - Science

Or depend on him.

The New York Times

"We depend on tourism".

The New York Times

Our lives depend on it.

Independent

We all depend on him".

The New York Times - Sports

Now we depend on relief".

Independent

It will depend on you".

The New Yorker

You can depend on them.

The New York Times

Math doesn't depend on speed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what is relying on what. For example, "Our success will "depend on" the quality of our products" provides clear context.

Common error

Avoid using "depend on" when you mean to simply 'rely on' for assistance without a true contingency. For instance, instead of saying "I "depend on" my friend for advice", consider "I rely on my friend for advice" if the advice isn't a strict requirement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depend on" primarily functions as a phrasal verb indicating reliance or contingency. Ludwig's examples show it's used to express that an outcome, action, or state is conditional upon something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

11%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "depend on" is a very common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to express reliance or contingency. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business settings. While alternatives like "rely on" and "hinge on" exist, "depend on" maintains a versatile and neutral tone suitable for diverse writing styles. Its primary function is to indicate that one thing is conditional upon another, emphasizing a cause-and-effect relationship. Remember to consider context when choosing between "depend on" and similar phrases, and avoid using it when simply implying assistance without a true contingency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely on

This alternative emphasizes trust and confidence in something or someone.

count on

Similar to "rely on", but often implies a more active expectation of support or assistance.

hinge on

This suggests that the outcome or success is entirely conditional on a specific factor.

be contingent on

Highlights the conditional nature of something, making it dependent on specific circumstances.

be conditional upon

A formal way of expressing that something is reliant on certain conditions being met.

rest on

This suggests a foundation or basis of support, implying that something is built upon something else.

be determined by

Indicates that the outcome is directly decided or influenced by a particular element.

be subject to

Implies that something is vulnerable or influenced by external factors or conditions.

turn on

This alternative emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship where the other element activates something.

swear by

This indicates a very strong conviction and trust in something's effectiveness or reliability.

FAQs

How can I use "depend on" in a sentence?

You can use "depend on" to show that one thing is affected by another. For example, "Whether we go to the park will "depend on the weather"" or "You can "depend on me" to help you with the project".

What's a good alternative to "depend on"?

Alternatives include "rely on", which means to trust or count on someone or something; "hinge on", which suggests that something is determined by something else; or "count on", which implies expecting something to happen.

Is it correct to say "depends upon" instead of "depend on"?

"Depends upon" is a more formal, but grammatically correct, alternative to "depend on". Both can be used, but "depend on" is generally more common in everyday speech and writing.

What's the difference between "depend on" and "rely on"?

While often interchangeable, "depend on" typically implies a contingency or condition (e.g., "Our trip will "depend on the weather""), while "rely on" focuses more on trust and reliance for support (e.g., "I "rely on my friends" for advice").