# bank on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bank-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to rely on something happening or to base your plans on it.

For teachers: to depend on a specific occurrence or outcome with confidence; often used in the negative to warn against over-reliance on an uncertain event.

## Examples

- I'm banking on the weather being sunny for our picnic.
- You shouldn't bank on getting a promotion this year, as the company is cutting costs.
- The startup was banking on a massive influx of venture capital to sustain its operations through the third quarter.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I bank on that he will help." but "I am banking on him helping." — this phrase is followed by a noun or a gerund, not a 'that' clause.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form).
- Teaching tip: connect the meaning to the idea of 'putting money in a bank' for security; contrast with 'count on' which is a very close synonym but slightly more common in daily speech.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.