rely

[ri-lahy]

verb (used without object), re·lied, re·ly·ing.

to depend confidently; put trust in (usually followed by on or upon): You can rely on her work.

Origin of rely

1300–50; Middle English relien < Middle French relier < Latin religāre to bind fast, hold firmly. See re-, ligament

Related formsmis·re·ly, verb (used without object), mis·re·lied, mis·re·ly·ing.

Synonyms for rely

trust, count, bank.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for relied

count, depend, calculate, reckon, confide, await, lean, build, expect, hope, bet, commit, entrust, trust, bank, look

Examples from the Web for relied

Contemporary Examples of relied

Indeed, North Korea relied on China for the attack because its entire access to the Internet runs through that country.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea
Shane Harris, Tim Mak
December 20, 2014
The protests so far have relied on a small group of core organizing bodies to harness broad but diffuse support.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall
Jacob Siegel
December 11, 2014
In the days of yore, stars both reviled and relied on the studio system to protect them from themselves.
Why We Need Celebrity Scandals
Jessica Ferri
November 7, 2014
Nancy relied on others to make her medical decisions for her.
U.K. Courts Grant Mother Right to End Her 12-Year-Old Disabled Daughter’s Life
Elizabeth Picciuto
November 4, 2014
But Ruby Pearl kept order, and the more responsibility she took the more Spahn relied upon her.
Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range
Gay Talese
October 31, 2014

Historical Examples of relied

His notions of time and distance are often not in the very least to be relied on.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
If I relied upon my memory, I could not tell when the French war ended.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
You might say that she relied on her father alone for companionship.
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
All relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever disappointed in him.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
Such men, too, are apt to rely upon agents, who are not always to be relied upon.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles

British Dictionary definitions for relied

rely

verb -lies, -lying or -lied (intr ; foll by on or upon)

to be dependent (on)he relies on his charm
to have trust or confidence (in)you can rely on us

Word Origin for rely

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for relied

rely

early 14c., "to gather, assemble" (transitive and intransitive), from Old French relier "assemble, put together; fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from Latin religare "fasten, bind fast," from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1570s, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on." Typically used with on, perhaps by influence of lie (v.2). Related: Relied; relying.