rely
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
-
to be dependent (on)
he relies on his charm
-
to have trust or confidence (in)
you can rely on us
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Locals had long relied on the resort to draw visitors to the two towns that border it: Telluride, in the box canyon, and Mountain Village, higher up the slopes.
The Gulf monarchies have worked hard to stay on the periphery of Middle East conflict, relying on their stability to attract business, trade and tourism.
From Barron's
To reconstruct this evolutionary history, the team relied on a statistical computer model.
From Science Daily
The researchers propose that this mechanism provides an effective solution for very large embryonic cells that divide rapidly and cannot rely on the conventional model.
From Science Daily
The approach relies on a strategy called chemogenetics, which allows researchers to control cells using specific chemical signals.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
