heavily dependent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'heavily dependent' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that needs to rely a lot on another thing to be successful or complete. For example, "Jack's career success is heavily dependent on his ability to network."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both are heavily dependent on public spending.

The New York Times

We're heavily dependent on legal aid.

The Guardian

Japan was heavily dependent on rice, OK?

Yale University

Peru's economy is heavily dependent on mining.

The New York Times

They were heavily dependent upon Jason Roy and Ben Stokes.

The Guardian - Sport

The Philippines is heavily dependent on imported fuel.

The New York Times

China is heavily dependent on domestically produced coal for power.

The New York Times

Bertelsmann remains heavily dependent on its TV division.

The Guardian

It, too, is becoming heavily dependent on imported grain.

The Guardian

Its economy is weak, and heavily dependent on state spending.

The Guardian

Finances The Palestinian Authority is heavily dependent on foreign assistance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heavily dependent", clearly state what is relying on what to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying 'The project is heavily dependent', specify 'The project is heavily dependent on external funding'.

Common error

Avoid using "heavily dependent" when a milder term like 'influenced by' or 'somewhat reliant' would be more accurate. Overstating dependence can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavily dependent" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating a strong reliance or dependence of one entity on another. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes something needing to rely a lot on another thing to be successful or complete. This function is evident in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "heavily dependent" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a strong reliance of one thing on another. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English. It appears frequently across diverse contexts like news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly state the relationship of dependence to avoid ambiguity. While it's versatile, be mindful of overstating the degree of dependence if a milder term would be more accurate. Remember you can use alternatives like "strongly reliant", "significantly dependent", or "largely relies on" based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongly reliant

Indicates a robust reliance but uses 'reliant' instead of 'dependent'.

highly reliant

Uses 'highly' to emphasize the degree of reliance.

significantly reliant

Emphasizes the substantial degree of reliance.

largely relies on

Changes the structure to a verb-based phrase.

substantially relies on

Uses 'substantially' to highlight the significant level of reliance.

primarily depends on

Focuses on primary dependence.

extremely relies on

Increases the degree of reliance.

critically relies on

Highlights that the reliance is crucial or essential.

majorly relies on

Indicates a key component of support or reliance.

fundamentally reliant

Emphasizes the basic and foundational nature of the reliance.

FAQs

How can I use "heavily dependent" in a sentence?

Use "heavily dependent" to show that something relies a lot on something else. For example, "The country's economy is "heavily dependent on tourism"".

What's a good substitute for "heavily dependent"?

Alternatives include "strongly reliant", "significantly dependent", or "largely relies on", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "heavily dependent on" or "heavily reliant on"?

Both "heavily dependent on" and "heavily reliant on" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, although "dependent" might be slightly more common in formal writing.

What does it mean when something is described as "heavily dependent"?

It means that the thing in question relies extensively on something else for its success, function, or existence. Reducing that reliance can have significantly negative effects.