Words / A2

di-PEND/dɪˈpend/

Depend on means need someone or something, or change according to a situation: it depends on the weather; children depend on their parents. Depend upon is more formal. Independent is the opposite idea. It depends is a complete short answer. Do not drop on: not “it depends the price.”

Meaning

To need someone or something, or to change according to a situation.

Examples

• “We may go out, but it depends on the weather.”
• “I might join you — it depends on my shift.”
• “The town depends on tourism in summer.”

Good to know

depend on + noun. Short answer: It depends. Not “depend of.”

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