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rely

[ri-lahy] / rɪˈlaɪ /


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.

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.

See Examples For:

But in order to survive the woods, Murphy will have to dig deep into his wartime past and rely on his own skills and smarts to make out it out intact.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 18, 2026

Older data centers did rely heavily on evaporative cooling, much like an outdated car relied on a carburetor.

From MarketWatch Sep. 18, 2026

"For our experiments, we also rely on PSI's particle accelerator, which generates the world's most intense, continuous muon beams," says Soter.

From Science Daily Sep. 18, 2026

Five years ago, sellers could say no to repairs and rely on a backup offer.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

Anyway, I might as well have my own way to protect myself, so I don’t feel I have to rely on Kelton’s Krav Maga, or whatever other lethal martial art he knows.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

He also endorsed the use of independent evaluators to scrutinize AI systems, saying Meta Superintelligence Labs, his company's AI division, already relies on outside reviewers.

From Barron's Sep. 16, 2026

The iPhone’s live-in assistant now relies, in part, on Google’s Gemini models to answer questions.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 14, 2026

And while in Portland Brianna enjoyed walking to parks and shops, she now relies on her car to get anywhere.

From BBC Sep. 14, 2026

Jones in Kansas City worries about the fragility of a system that relies on children never getting sick.

From Salon Sep. 12, 2026

He sees that the new science relies on new standards of evidence.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Older data centers did rely heavily on evaporative cooling, much like an outdated car relied on a carburetor.

From MarketWatch Sep. 18, 2026

Mervyn and his wife Ruth, who live near Portglenone, relied on their faith for "the strength to carry on".

From BBC Sep. 17, 2026

A franchise that used to cycle through mostly forgettable quarterbacks and relied on suffocating defense now hopes to win a Super Bowl by betting that its budding star can outscore just about anyone.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 14, 2026

Both countries also relied heavily on naval mines.

From Science Daily Sep. 14, 2026

White relied upon Agent Burger to guide him through the murk of the previous federal investigation.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

“We also continue to favor non-correlated assets where investors can create value through operational improvement rather than simply relying on falling discount rates,” he added.

From MarketWatch Sep. 18, 2026

They have argued that relying solely on putting cables underground is prohibitively expensive and disruptive.

From BBC Sep. 17, 2026

Plus, if mortgage rates do rise further, the mortgage-rate buydowns that home builders have been relying on to drive sales would become more expensive, cutting into profits.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 16, 2026

That has increased interest in treatments that can relieve symptoms without relying on medication.

From Science Daily Sep. 15, 2026

Well, maybe I'm relying too heavily on chance, Victor thought.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke




Vocabulary lists containing rely


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