Definition of rely
relied
;relying
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
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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 of rely from the Web
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Although the expansion could pose a threat to Uber and Lyft, most people who use ride-hailing services don’t rely on them to get to work, according to survey data.
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Among the sticking points, Rauner has insisted on a property tax freeze while Democrats contend such a move would hurt local school districts that rely heavily on those levies for their funding.
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According to Mercedes, the Tuscaloosa plant relies on almost 200 U.S.-based suppliers, most of which are international companies that have production sites in the United States.
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U.S. diplomats have relied on back channels with foreign counterparts in other situations involving sensitive negotiations.
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Fourth Circuit Chief Judge Robert Gregory’s majority opinion relies on that argument, as did earlier opinions by District Judges Leonie Brinkema, James Robart, Derrick Watson, and Theodore Chuang, and by a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel.
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The U.S. is a wealthy country, and many people can rely on air-conditioning during heat waves.
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The group, which began as a peasant army in the 1950s, morphed into a hardened fighting force that relied on kidnapping, extortion and narco-trafficking to finance its war.
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The self-reflection is especially the case as Facebook has wrestled with more questions about its responsibilities and its role in the lives of its users, many of whom rely on the network for news and information.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rely'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of rely
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
RELY Defined for Kids
rely
playDefinition of rely for Students
relied
;relying
: to trust in or depend on I rely on my family to help me out.
Law Dictionary
rely
Legal Definition of rely
relied
relying
: to depend with confidence : place faith
Learn More about rely
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See words that rhyme with rely Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rely Spanish Central: Translation of rely Nglish: Translation of rely for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rely for Arabic speakers
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