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
Launching a military operation and then assuming responsibility for governance shifts Washington toward a closed, coercive model of power – one that relies on force to establish authority and is prohibitively costly to sustain over time.
—
Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
But without relying on the product and brand virality engineered by platforms like TikTok, Pinterest has to lean heavily on its curation and the relevance of products being suggested to drive sales and attract brand partners.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2026
Maduro’s capture is a seismic reversal of fortune for Cuba’s communist-run government, which for decades has relied on massive aid packages from its oil-rich South American ally for the island’s very survival.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
This defense has relied on turnovers all season long.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
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Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
But without relying on the product and brand virality engineered by platforms like TikTok, Pinterest has to lean heavily on its curation and the relevance of products being suggested to drive sales and attract brand partners.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2026
Maduro’s capture is a seismic reversal of fortune for Cuba’s communist-run government, which for decades has relied on massive aid packages from its oil-rich South American ally for the island’s very survival.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
This defense has relied on turnovers all season long.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
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 Jan. 2026.
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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