rely

verb

re·​ly ri-ˈlī 

relied; relying

intransitive verb

1

: to be dependent

the system on which we rely for water

2

: to have confidence based on experience

someone you can rely on

relier

ri-ˈlī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms of rely

• depend
• count

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

These genomes should reflect the full sequence of both chromosome copies and the diversity of the global population, rather than relying on one person or one ancestral group as a universal standard. — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

The organization relied upon a ring of people, including drug dealers, inmates and jail employees, to get drugs inside MDCR jail facilities, the complaint said. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

The options are relying on the generosity of another person whose death supports your life or selling your own body for a man’s pleasure. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

And because the Singaporean government can’t be too sure, the program relies on a Nobel Prize-winning matching theory algorithm to really get their employees together. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relien to rally, from Anglo-French relier to retie, gather, rally, from Latin religare to tie out of the way, from re- + ligare to tie — more at ligature

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rely

• rely on/upon

Rhymes for rely

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids 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

Legal Definition

rely

intransitive verb

re·​ly

relied; relying

: to depend with confidence : place faith