depend on/upon sb/sth
— phrasal verb with depend uk/dɪˈpend/us/dɪˈpend/verb [ I ]
(TRUST)
B2 to trust someone or something and know that that person or thing will help you or do what you want or expect him, her, or it to do:
You can always depend on Michael in a crisis.
[ + to infinitive ] I'm depending on you to keep your promise.
[ + -ing verb ] You can't always depend on flights arriving on time.
humorous You can depend on Jana to be late (= she is always late).
More examples
- In her last difficult years, she depended completely on her husband to look after her.
- Surely a friend should be someone you can depend on in difficult times?
- She was a fiercely independent lady who refused to depend on anyone.
- I can't employ him in the shop if I can't depend on him to act responsibly.
- You can depend on Jack - he's the most reliable man I know.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Trusting and not trusting
- (you can) depend on/upon it idiom
- accept/take sth on faith idiom
- bank
- bank on sb/sth
- believe
- believe in sb
- count
- faith
- have faith! idiom
- I wouldn't trust sb as far as I could throw them idiom
- keep faith with sth/sb idiom
- lean
- lean on sb/sth
- reliance
- rely on/upon sb/sth
- repose
- repose trust/confidence/hope in sb/sth idiom
- trust
- trustable
- turn
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(SUPPORT)
B2 to need something, or need the help and support of someone or something, in order to live or continue as before:
Charities depend on people supporting their activities.
The country depends heavily on foreign aid.
Elaine depends upon Bob completely for her happiness.
More examples
- Most of the local population depend on fishing for their income.
- Many species of tree depend on the wind for pollination.
- A country's future prosperity depends, to an extent, upon the quality of education of its people.
- A strong economy depends on a healthy manufacturing base.
- In the past, navigation depended on a knowledge of the positions of the stars.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Being based on or depending on something
- base sth on sth
- basis
- boil down to sth
- build around sth
- build on sth
- come down to sth
- ground
- live off sb/sth
- more
- on the back of sth idiom
- on the strength of sth idiom
- predicate
- put all your eggs in one basket idiom
- rest
- ride
- spring
- turn on sth
- underlie
- underpin
- understanding
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