Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense relies, present participle relying, past tense, past participle relied
1. verb
If you relyon someone or something, you need them and depend on them in order to live or work properly.
They relied heavily on the advice of their professional advisers. [VERB + on/upon]
The Association relies on member subscriptions for most of its income. [Von/upon n for n]
2. verb
If you can relyon someone to work well or to behave as you want them to, you can trust them to do this.
I know I can rely on you to sort it out. [VERB + on/upon]
The Red Cross are relying on us. [VERB + on/upon]
rely in British English
(rɪˈlaɪ)
verbWord forms: -lies, -lying or -lied(intr; foll by on or upon)
1.
to be dependent (on)
he relies on his charm
2.
to have trust or confidence (in)
you can rely on us
Word origin
C14: from Old French relier to fasten together, repair, from Latin religāre to tie back, from re- + ligāre to tie
rely in American English
(rɪˈlaɪ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: reˈlied or reˈlying
1.
to have confidence; trust
you can rely on their willingness to help
2.
to look to for support or aid; depend
▶ USAGE: Used with on or uponSYNONYMY NOTE: to rely (on or upon) a person or thing is to have confidence, usually on the basis of past experience,that what is expected will be done [she can be relied on to keep the secret]; to trust is to have complete faith or assurance that one will not be let down by another [to trust in God]; to depend (on or upon) a person or thing is to be assured of support or aid from that person or thing [he can depend on his wife for sympathy]; to count1 (on) or, colloquially, to reckon (on) something is to consider it in one's calculations as certain [they counted, or reckoned, on my going]; to bank1 (on), a colloquial term, is to have confidence like that of one who is willing to riskmoney on something [don't bank on their help]
Word origin
ME relien, to rally < OFr relier < L religare: see religion
Examples of 'rely' in a sentence
rely
But there are also concerns about relying heavily on technology.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
It relies heavily on the independence of the military judiciary and has been galvanised by a free press.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Your girlfriend has been doubly betrayed by the two people she thinks she can best trust and rely on.
The Sun (2016)
Be firm that you can't trust him to rely on willpower alone.
The Sun (2016)
But that doesn't sit easily with relying heavily on volunteers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The work relies heavily on assessments and reports drawn up by its social workers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Women bereaved by the violence relied heavily on their families for support.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Would you put your money with a fund manager who relies on advice from an astrologer?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Yet trust surely relies on a presumption of innocence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Colin got the payout because he cannot work and relies on family and friends for care.
The Sun (2015)
Trade in goods relies heavily on investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were relying on the advice of experts.
Christianity Today (2000)
The system relies on public trust in judgment by peers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Most people who lack confidence rely too heavily on the passive and aggressive behaviours.
Lindenfield, Gael 50 Ways to Become a Self-Confident Woman (1989)
He says that he relied on expert advice not to.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He trusts and relies on them and he understands his senior players.
The Sun (2008)
Investors have soured on its model that relied heavily on debt.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Look to old friends you can trust and rely on to help you get back on your feet.
The Sun (2009)
It will be more difficult to change the approach of the volunteers on whom the trust relies so heavily.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Inflation always hits the poor hardest because they rely on income rather than assets and their real incomes are squeezed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As such the bonds are least suitable for small savers who rely on income to boost their income or capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Many really rely on this income.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But it seems that a growing number of landlords are relying on rental income long before retirement to supplement their squeezed earnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Experts blame the differences on mothers and fathers relying too heavily on their own emotional feelings in assessing the happiness of the family.
The Sun (2015)
You can't rely on rental income for profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The sooner they do, the less likely they will have to rely on working in old age.
The Sun (2013)
Being able to provide yourself with your own work relies less on having a rich uncle to back you than on knowing yourself well.
Ingham, Christine Life Without Work (1994)
You make faster, more rewarding progress at work now you rely on yourself rather than being too concerned about other people.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
rely
British English: rely VERB
to rely on sth/sb | to rely upon sth/sb If you rely on someone or something, you need them and depend on them in order to live or work properly.
They relied heavily on the advice of their professional advisers.