rely

verb

re·​ly ri-ˈlī 

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

relier

ri-ˈlī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• depend
• count

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

Before satellite measurements, researchers relied on estimates and data from a smattering of air and ground-based sensors. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025

Period underwear, heating patches, and more period products for teens and moms to rely on. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 6 Sep. 2025

Instead of relying solely on endless hours of physical-world data, Vidar generates synthetic training environments from just a small amount of real video. —Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025

This type of water harvesting relies on desiccant, the same stuff that’s in those little packs put into shoe boxes and new bags to suck up moisture and prevent water damage. —Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing rely

• rely on/upon

Rhymes for rely

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids 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

Legal Definition

rely

intransitive verb

re·​ly

relied; relying

: to depend with confidence : place faith