relied; relying
1
: to be dependent
the system on which we rely for water
2
: to have confidence based on experience
someone you can rely on
Examples of rely in a Sentence
rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Caring Place in Pleasant Ridge is but one of nearly 600 food pantries and similar venues across 20 counties that rely on Freestore.
—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Dec. 2025
In the name of efficiency, a clean shave or a precise cut in even the most sophisticated cities relied on impersonal online bookings, quick turnaround times, and interiors that definitely spared expense.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2025
Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has damaged the group’s military leadership and financial infrastructure, forcing it to rely more heavily on overseas networks.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Some rely on furnaces hotter than 760°C, others on pressures comparable to deep-sea environments, and many involve hazardous compounds such as hydrazine or melamine.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rely
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Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Dec. 2025
In the name of efficiency, a clean shave or a precise cut in even the most sophisticated cities relied on impersonal online bookings, quick turnaround times, and interiors that definitely spared expense.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2025
Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has damaged the group’s military leadership and financial infrastructure, forcing it to rely more heavily on overseas networks.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Some rely on furnaces hotter than 760°C, others on pressures comparable to deep-sea environments, and many involve hazardous compounds such as hydrazine or melamine.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rely
Cite this Entry
“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rely
verb
re·ly
ri-ˈlī 
relied; relying
1
: to have confidence based on experience
someone you can rely on
2
: to be dependent
the system on which we rely for water
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