1 A2 neutral
To need someone or something for support, survival, or success
"Many small businesses depend on repeat customers to stay profitable."
inseparable
depend on
A2 neutral inseparable transitive
To need someone or something in order to function or succeed, or to vary according to conditions
In plain English
To need someone or something, or to say that something will be different depending on the situation
What does "depend on" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To vary or change according to particular conditions or factors
"Whether we go camping this weekend depends on the weather forecast."
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
To trust that someone will behave in a reliable, consistent way
"You can always depend on her — she has never let us down."
inseparable
Usage tip
Extremely common in all registers. The phrase 'it depends' (without 'on') is used alone when the condition is understood or will be stated separately. 'That depends on...' is one of the most frequent sentence patterns in English.
Words that pair with "depend on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
context situation circumstances weather budget factors support
How to conjugate "depend on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
depend on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
depends on
he/she/it
Past simple
depended on
yesterday
Past participle
depended on
have + pp
-ing form
depending on
continuous
Hear "depend on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "depend on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "depend on"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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