rely

verb

re·​ly ri-ˈlī How to pronounce rely (audio)
relied; relying
Synonyms of relynext

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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Every year is different, however, and Gutekunst will be relying on players such as Franklin, Hargrave, left tackle Jordan Morgan and perhaps some rookies to prove his moves both this offseason and in recent years were good enough for a team in win-now mode to compete for a ring in 2026. Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Unlike vision-only systems, Atlas relies heavily on proprioception—internal sensing of body position, load, balance, grip, and resistance—while manipulating objects. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026 That means networking tactics now include creating visibility intentionally rather than relying on proximity to do it for you. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 The market is doing the Fed’s job Kevin Warsh’s argument for an ultimately lower Fed funds rate may rely on the notion that financial conditions are likely to tighten further on the long end of the yield curve—far outweighing any nips to the base rate the central bank can make. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rely

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rely was in 1574

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

rely

verb
re·​ly ri-ˈlī How to pronounce rely (audio)
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

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