rely
[ri-lahy]
- to depend confidently; put trust in (usually followed by on or upon): You can rely on her work.
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Origin of rely
Synonyms
See more synonyms for rely on Thesaurus.comtrust, count, bank.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for relied
Contemporary Examples
Indeed, North Korea relied on China for the attack because its entire access to the Internet runs through that country.
The protests so far have relied on a small group of core organizing bodies to harness broad but diffuse support.
In the days of yore, stars both reviled and relied on the studio system to protect them from themselves.
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 LifeElizabeth Picciuto
November 4, 2014
But Ruby Pearl kept order, and the more responsibility she took the more Spahn relied upon her.
Historical Examples
His notions of time and distance are often not in the very least to be relied on.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
If I relied upon my memory, I could not tell when the French war ended.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
You might say that she relied on her father alone for companionship.
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
All relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever disappointed in him.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
Such men, too, are apt to rely upon agents, who are not always to be relied upon.
Self-HelpSamuel Smiles
rely
- to be dependent (on)he relies on his charm
- to have trust or confidence (in)you can rely on us
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Word Origin
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
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper