rely
verb (used without object)
to depend confidently; put trust in (usually followed by on orupon ).
was relying
-
past progressiveof rely.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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 city was facing an estimated $255 million deficit, and some argued it was relying too heavily on emergency borrowing and one-time money such as pandemic-relief funds and land sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Strong quarterly earnings from major U.S. companies are propelling stock indexes to new heights, easing fears that the market rally was relying too heavily on a few tech giants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Weiss told staff in January that CBS News was relying too heavily on broadcast television and was "not producing a product that enough people want".
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
“Since World War II everyone was relying on the U.S. Navy to protect the freedom of the seas. It was taken for granted. The entirety of global trade by ship relies on this,” she said.
From Barron's ● Apr. 17, 2026
Shackleton consulted with Wild, who demanded a place on the boat beside his leader, but Shackleton was relying on his second-in-command to hold the men together while they waited for rescue.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
