Advertisement

Advertisement

rely

Definition for rely
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

China has a massive population and, if they start buying more stuff, Chinese companies won't have to rely as much on trade overseas.

From BBC

It relied on an anonymous source and came from a police officer who was suspended a few months later.

The film’s marketing has relied heavily on the real-life relationships forged while filming.

From Salon

"It was developed with expert internal and external legal advice, and has also been relied upon in a High Court judgment," a spokesperson said.

From BBC

Proponents said a new agency was needed to make housing decisions that benefit the whole region, rather than relying on piecemeal funding from the county’s 88 cities.

Advertisement

Discover More

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for rely?

The closest synonym for rely in many contexts is depend.

Rely is often used in the verb phrase rely on, and the phrases depend on and count on often mean the same thing.

Saying that you rely on a person suggests an element of confidence or trust—it means that you know you can depend on them without them letting you down.

In this sense, a person or thing on which you rely can be described as reliable or dependable.

Saying that an outcome relies on something means that it’s necessary for the outcome to happen, as in Our success will rely on preparation and a little bit of luck. The phrases hinge on and rest on can be used in the same way.

Are rely and support synonyms?

Rely and support are often used in the same contexts, but they aren’t synonyms. Instead, they’re more like the two different ends of the same interaction: typically, if you’re relying on someone, they’re supporting you. The support is what’s being relied on.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement