rely

American  

[ri-lahy] / rɪˈlaɪ /

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

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rely British  

/ rɪˈlaɪ /

verb

1. to be dependent (on)

   he relies on his charm

2. to have trust or confidence (in)

   you can rely on us

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Other Word Forms

• misrely verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of rely

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

Example Sentences

In the first, he led a brilliantly played performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony, which speaks well for a fall season that will rely heavily on Beethoven.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Before you get to that stage, however, club owners and chairmen will rely on their sporting director and chief executive to compile a list of names.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Where long-simmered soups rely on time to build depth, these build it through contrast: creamy against sharp, rich against bright, soft against crisp.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Economists rely on the three-month average to glean recent hiring trends.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

When it came to the day-to-day lives of our girls, I often had to rely on young staffers to help with logistics.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama