rely

verb

re·ly | \ ri-ˈlī

relied; relying

Definition of rely

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 on the Web

In the weeks after the shutdown began, the Office of Management and Budget approved requests across the government to keep programs and services operating, relying in part on user fees or funds earmarked for other purposes. — Peter Nicholas, WSJ, "Democrats Ask if Trump Administration Misspent Funds During Shutdown," 31 Jan. 2019 Like many Indonesian healers, Lagita relied on massage and compresses made with essential oils such as sandalwood. — Jennifer Goldstein, Marie Claire, "How To Spice Up Your Skincare Routine," 18 Jan. 2019 From my experience, maybe not all but most of the brands coming from the streetwear scene rely on many elements, not just clothing. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Think Streetwear Is a New Phenomenon? Meet Luca Benini Who Started the Hype 30 Years Ago," 11 Jan. 2019 Traveling has taught us to trust each other and rely on each other’s strengths. — Anne Roderique-jones, SELF, "15 Lessons I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Marriage," 8 Jan. 2019 Wordless picture books captivate imaginations and rely on pitch-perfect illustrations to great effect. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 17 best kids’ books about design and cities," 12 Dec. 2018 Shares in smaller rivals Luk Fook Holdings and Chow Sang Sang, which rely heavily on mainland Chinese tourists, have retreated 8.6% and 22%, respectively, in the same period. — Joanne Chiu, WSJ, "As China Slows, Sneakers and Noodles Beat Jewelry and Liquor Stocks," 17 Jan. 2019 New commercial ventures are verboten, and the rezoning process relies heavily on community input. — Alex Bhattacharji, Town & Country, "An Empty Lot Above Beverly Hills Is the Most Expensive Real Estate in the World," 17 Jan. 2019 The Bottom Line The best diets promote inclusivity over exclusivity and rely heavily on produce. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "Celery Juice "Benefits" Are Total B.S., According to Nutrition Science," 16 Jan. 2019

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.