had been relying
- past perfect progressive of rely.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The utility recently installed water hookups for one secluded mountaintop community that had been relying on cisterns and a truck hauling creek water—a project Brewster said took six years to accumulate enough government money for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
Another man said until recently, residents had been relying on something called "ombaz", a food waste left over after pressing oil from peanut shells.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025
Israel, an oral surgeon at Columbia University and self-described “very ordinary American Jew,” told the New York Times he had been relying on the book since he was a medical student.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2024
The Chiefs had been relying all season on their defense to bail out an offense that had struggled to hit its stride.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 22, 2023
At least three of them, Cato, Clove, and Foxface, had been relying on it.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
