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
In this game, progress relies on both players having an equal footing throughout and taking on a variety of challenges, from dealing with dragons to aerial fights that cannot be completed solo.
—
Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Border Patrol agents have relied on horses for border security operations since the agency’s founding more than 100 years ago.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
Traditional weather models -- like the European Model and the American Global Forecast system that the NHC regularly uses -- rely on complex simulations that use atmospheric and physics-based equations, which require significant time and computing power to run.
—ABC News, 6 Dec. 2025
The 17-mile passage, called Rogfast, is designed to cut travel time between cities and and create a highway that doesn’t need to rely on ferry crossings.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rely
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Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Border Patrol agents have relied on horses for border security operations since the agency’s founding more than 100 years ago.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
Traditional weather models -- like the European Model and the American Global Forecast system that the NHC regularly uses -- rely on complex simulations that use atmospheric and physics-based equations, which require significant time and computing power to run.
—ABC News, 6 Dec. 2025
The 17-mile passage, called Rogfast, is designed to cut travel time between cities and and create a highway that doesn’t need to rely on ferry crossings.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 6 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 7 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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