be controlled or determined by, be subject to the influence of, rely on

it/that depends, depend on/upon somebody/something, depend on the kindness of strangers

Formal and Informal Expressions of depends

In different contexts, you can replace 'depends' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'rely on, be subject to' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'hang on, be up to' is a commonplace synonym.

depends: Explore its Definition & Usage

depends Definition

1be controlled or determined by
2be subject to the influence of
3rely on

Using depends: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "depends" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
Whether we go on vacation depends on the weather.
Example
The success of the project depends on everyone doing their part.
Example
His health depends on him taking his medication regularly.
Example
The outcome of the game depends on how well they play.

depends Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for depends

hinge on
rest on
turn on
hang on
be influenced by

Antonyms for depends

be independent of
be unconnected with

Phrases with depends

it/that depends
used to say that the answer to a question will be different in different situations
Example
A: Can you work on Saturday? B: It depends. I might have plans already.
depend on/upon somebody/something
to need someone or something in order to exist, be successful, etc.
Example
The company's future depends on finding new investors.
depend on the kindness of strangers
to rely on the help of people who you do not know
Example
After losing her job, she had to depend on the kindness of strangers to get by.

📌

Summary: depends in Brief

The verb 'depends' [dɪˈpɛndz] means to be controlled or determined by something, to be subject to its influence, or to rely on it. For example, 'The success of the project depends on everyone doing their part.' The phrase 'it/that depends' is used to indicate that the answer to a question will vary depending on the situation, while 'depend on/upon somebody/something' means to need someone or something in order to exist or be successful. 'Depend on the kindness of strangers' is an idiom that means to rely on the help of unknown people.