rely

[ri-lahy]

verb (used without object)

relied, relying 

1. to depend confidently; put trust in (usually followed by on orupon ).

   You can rely on her work.

   Synonyms: bank, count, trust

rely

/ rɪˈlaɪ /

verb

1. to be dependent (on)

   he relies on his charm

2. to have trust or confidence (in)

   you can rely on us

Other Word Forms

• misrely verb (used without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rely¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relien, from Middle French relier, from Latin religāre “to bind fast, hold firmly”; re-, ligament

Word History and Origins

Origin of rely¹

C14: from Old French relier to fasten together, repair, from Latin religāre to tie back, from _re- + ligāre to tie

Example Sentences

It suspended purchase of US agricultural products and proposed export controls on its large supply of critical minerals - resources that the US, and much of the world, rely on for high-tech manufacturing.

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You can then rely on your investments with peace of mind thereafter.

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Traditional entertainment companies, including Warner and NBCUniversal, have long relied heavily on cable programming fees to boost profit but consumers have been scaling back on pay-TV subscriptions amid the move to streaming.

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About a quarter of military families are considered food insecure, and 15% rely on Snap or food pantries, according to the research firm Rand.

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With roughly one billion capillaries, the brain relies on healthy vasculature to sustain function and resist disease.

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