Definition

Verb: 1. To rely on someone or something for support, help, or maintenance: To need someone or something for a particular purpose, such as financial support, physical assistance, or emotional sustenance. 2. To place trust or confidence in someone or something: To be sure that someone will do what they say or that something will happen as expected. 3. To be determined or influenced by something else; to be contingent upon: For one thing to be directly affected by the condition or outcome of another.

Examples of Usage

• For support/maintenance:
  • Many plants depend on bees for pollination.
  • The company depends on a few key clients for most of its revenue.
• For trust/confidence:
  • I know I can depend on you to keep a secret.
  • You can't depend on the bus being on time.
• To be contingent upon:
  • Whether we have a picnic depends on the weather.
  • Our final decision depends on the results of the survey.

Advanced Usage

• "It/That depends (on)": A common phrase used to indicate that an answer or outcome is not certain and is conditional on other factors.
  • "Are you coming to the party?" – "It depends on whether I finish my work."
  • We might go hiking tomorrow, but that depends entirely on the forecast.

Variants and Related Words

• Dependent (adjective): Needing someone or something for support.
  • The kitten is still dependent on its mother for food.
• Dependence (noun): The state of relying on something.
  • The country aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Synonyms

• Rely on: To trust or be dependent on. (Often interchangeable with "depend on" for meanings 1 and 2).
• Count on: To expect something to happen or trust someone to do something. (Similar to meaning 2).
• Hinge on: To be contingent upon. (Similar to meaning 3).
• Be contingent on/upon: To be true only if something else happens.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bank on: To base your hopes or plans on something happening. (Informal, similar to meaning 2).
  • We're banking on good weather for the outdoor concert.
• Lean on: To depend on someone for emotional support or help.
  • It's okay to lean on your friends during difficult times.

Verb

1. be dependent on, as for support or maintenance
   • elderly parents often depend on their adult children
2. put trust in with confidence
   • she is someone you can really rely on when times get rough
   • you can rely on his discretion
3. be contingent on
   • The outcomes rides on the results of the election
   • Your grade will depends on your homework