rely on/upon

phrasal verb

relied on/upon; relying on/upon; relies on/upon

1

: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc. : to depend on (someone or something)

My mother relied on me for financial support.

They rely on a well for all their water.

2

: to trust or believe (someone or something)

She's someone you can rely on.

I relied heavily upon your advice.

You could always rely on him to disagree.

3

: to expect (something) with confidence : to be certain that (something) will happen or exist

The economy may improve next year, but it's not something you can rely on.

Examples of rely on/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To play at their best, Myers said the team needs to rely on past experience, face the pressure, and stay true to what has powered them to success: Discipline and execution. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2025

Ambitious investments in green energy in Africa rely on Chinese technology, minerals and goods. —Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Shoppers frequently rely on packaging, bottle shape and color to decide what to buy. —Rachel King, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

Positive test results will likely still require further testing, and a provider will need to rely on other clinical information to accurately diagnose a patient. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 16 May 2025