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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rely Alpert is a creature of comfort and relies on her EtúHome Handthrown mug to welcome in the day. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 Oct. 2025 Among the first to feel the pinch during this shutdown could be the 7 million mothers and young children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food program. NPR, 15 Oct. 2025 Those who rely on medication to fall asleep might see themselves in LC3, while people who routinely get by on five or six hours could fit the LC4. Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 So, at the end of the day, companies like ours rely on you. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rely
Verb
  • Whether those come or not, Dallas’ success likely depends on Prescott, Lamb, Pickens and the rest of the offense.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • By comparing two types of borosilicate glass, one containing magnesium and one without, the team discovered that the diffusion of boron atoms depends strongly on the glass composition and the time it has been exposed to water.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Breakfast of Champions With its delicious maple glaze, this cake definitely counts as breakfast in our book.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Club name Home Depot is also counting on a pickup in housing activity to drive sales.
    Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rely. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!