relied; relying
1
: to be dependent
the system on which we rely for water
2
: to have confidence based on experience
someone you can rely on
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
Those who rely on custom mobility devices still have to fly commercial or find another way to get to the games, and risk damage to their wheelchairs in the process.
—
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Ippei Naoi | Getty Images Investors continue to rely on professional financial advisers for their final investment decisions, even as artificial intelligence becomes more widely used in the initial stages of research, according to a survey by HSBC.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 25 June 2026
In the 22nd Congressional District, about two-thirds of voters rely on Medi-Cal which is the highest enrollment rate in California and of any Republican seat in the country.
—Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
The White House’s Iran negotiations rely on the dollar’s leverage, but Tehran has blunted that weapon by using alternative financial architecture, The Wall Street Journal reported, including payments in yuan or cryptocurrency, and adopting a Chinese alternative to the Swift banking network.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rely
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Zach Wichter, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Ippei Naoi | Getty Images Investors continue to rely on professional financial advisers for their final investment decisions, even as artificial intelligence becomes more widely used in the initial stages of research, according to a survey by HSBC.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 25 June 2026
In the 22nd Congressional District, about two-thirds of voters rely on Medi-Cal which is the highest enrollment rate in California and of any Republican seat in the country.
—Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
The White House’s Iran negotiations rely on the dollar’s leverage, but Tehran has blunted that weapon by using alternative financial architecture, The Wall Street Journal reported, including payments in yuan or cryptocurrency, and adopting a Chinese alternative to the Swift banking network.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rely
Cite this Entry
“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rely
verb
re·ly
ri-ˈlī 
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
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