reliable

adjective

re·li·able | \ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl

Definition of reliable

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : suitable or fit to be relied on : dependable

2 : giving the same result on successive trials

reliable

noun

Definition of reliable (Entry 2 of 2)

: one that is reliable

Other Words from reliable Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about reliable

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Examples of reliable in a Sentence

Adjective

He's not very reliable. You can't always count on him to do what he says he'll do. We can't write a report without reliable data. We need more reliable information before we can take action.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

With the economy in tatters, the only reliable homebuyers were the wealthy. — Jeff Andrews, Curbed, "Why shrinking U.S. homes may be a boost to homebuyers," 29 Nov. 2018 Its House members include Democratic House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan and GOP Rep. Mark Hargrove, considered a reliable conservative. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Races heating up in the Washington legislative districts that elect both Democrats and Republicans," 27 July 2018 Nearly a decade after going under, Kiel Bros. sites still ranked among the top 10 recipients of state money for such cleanups in Indiana in 2013, the last year for which the petroleum industry has reliable spending data for the company. — Brian Slodysko, Houston Chronicle, "Pence family gas stations left costly environmental legacy," 13 July 2018 Or steel pans of colorful bindhi masala that elevated okra to a savory main dish or reliable tarka dal that turned lentils into a smooth celebration of cumin and ginger. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: India Oven brings the heat on West Avenue," 12 July 2018 More than 10,000 of the single-aisle jets have been produced since the plane entered service in 1968, earning it a reputation as a reliable workhorse among the world’s commercial airlines. — Barbara Peterson, Condé Nast Traveler, "The FAA, Boeing Issue Alerts for 737 Max 8 Planes After Lion Air Crash," 9 Nov. 2018 But a lot of people just want a good, modern, reliable Mac. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "Apple MacBook Air (2018) review: the present of computing," 6 Nov. 2018 Khloe and True are moving back to Los Angeles, according to a very reliable source, momager Kris Jenner. — Alison Caporimo, Seventeen, "Here's Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's FULL Relationship Timeline," 26 July 2018 Brown Turkey is a reliable variety with delicious, purple-fleshed fruits. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "8 Fruit Trees You Can Grow Right on Your Porch," 24 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The general public now, however, would see Mr. Trump’s generals as the reliables, the dependables, the sophisticates of the administration. — Peggy Noonan, WSJ, "Let Calm and Cool Trump ‘Fire and Fury’," 10 Aug. 2017 North Korea's weekend launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile further demonstrated that the country is consistently trying to come up with new, better ways to keep its nuclear deterrent reliable and safe from attack. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "What's Different About North Korea's Latest Missile Test," 13 Feb. 2017 Also submitted for our hilarity are such reliables as the pot-smoking old lady and the elaborate cake that will never reach the finale intact. — Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: At ‘Table 19,’ Random Wedding Guests Straining to Laugh," 2 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reliable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.