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

As Johana Bhuiyan mused at Recode: ...in cities around the country, reliable and conveniently located public transit is not a given. — Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Fly On, My Sleek Electric Bird," 30 May 2018 The technology dates back to work done before World War II and, although clever, is not considered all that reliable as a weapon. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Russian Navy Is Fitting Ships with Barf-Inducing Lights," 4 Feb. 2019 Even frank and reliable Republican sources are resistant to comment about what’s next. — Chad Pergram, Fox News, "Amid cancer treatment, McCain exercised significant political clout from afar," 25 Aug. 2018 The monthly report is considered more reliable, so this could bullishly indicate that U.S. production isn’t surging in 2018 as much as expected. — Christopher Alessi, WSJ, "Oil Prices Decline, Weighed Down by OPEC, Russia Output," 31 July 2018 System 1 can only be considered reliable in remarkably stable and predictable situations and environments. — Paul C. Brunson, USA TODAY, "Paul C. Brunson: These 3 books are the best ever written on self-control and willpower," 5 July 2018 There isn’t a firm date for this just yet (Amazon lists September 5th, but that’s not entirely reliable), but N.K. Jemisin’s next novel is set for this fall. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "All the science fiction and fantasy books we’re looking forward to in 2019," 30 Dec. 2018 In areas that remained under Mr Assad’s control, electricity and water supplies are more reliable than in much of the Middle East. — The Economist, "How a victorious Bashar al-Assad is changing Syria," 28 June 2018 Of the four healthy outfielders, Springer is perhaps the most reliable — and comfortable — at all three positions. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Lineup changes force A.J. Hinch to shuffle Astros' outfield," 19 May 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.