as in to depend
to place reliance or trust
rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of rely
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Kuwait relies on desalination for 90% of its drinking water.
—
Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The musicians presumably had to rely heavily on loops in order to finish their tracks before the buzzer went off, and something is always slamming, scratching, or puttering away in the background.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Cities across the country--from New York City to San Diego—rely on them every day.
—Michael Hancock, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The state also relies mostly on crude oil imported from other countries including Brazil, Iraq and Guyana and processed at in-state refineries.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rely
Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The musicians presumably had to rely heavily on loops in order to finish their tracks before the buzzer went off, and something is always slamming, scratching, or puttering away in the background.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Cities across the country--from New York City to San Diego—rely on them every day.
—Michael Hancock, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The state also relies mostly on crude oil imported from other countries including Brazil, Iraq and Guyana and processed at in-state refineries.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rely
Verb
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According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, mold reactions depend on the type of mold, amount of mold and the person exposed.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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The survival of African biennials depends on strategic reinvention.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On their first night in Guangzhou, while Joost was in the private shower attached to their room, Martha pulled her money pouch from the recesses of her pack and counted her traveller’s checks.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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By most accounts, the conservative Supreme Court majority this week appeared skeptical of a Mississippi law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received within five business days after the election.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rely. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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