rely

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   To trust someone or something to do what you need, and to depend on it for help or support.

   Grammar: No direct object; it is followed by on or upon: rely on a friend.

   Patterns

   • rely on someone
   • rely on something to do something
   • rely on someone for something

   You can rely on me to bring the tickets.

   Many villages rely on rainwater for drinking.

   I relied on a map because my phone had no signal.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To need something in order to function or survive, often so much that you could not manage without it.

   Grammar: Followed by on and often used with -ing: rely on volunteers.

   Patterns

   • rely heavily on something
   • rely on something for something

   The shop relies heavily on tourists in summer.

   Some plants rely on insects to spread their pollen.

   The team relies on its goalkeeper far too much.

Word forms

Common combinations

rely on someone

I rely on my sister for honest advice.

rely heavily on

The region relies heavily on farming.

rely solely on

Don't rely solely on one source.

can't rely on

You can't rely on the weather here.

rely on luck

He had to rely on luck to finish the race.

rely on the fact that

We rely on the fact that people will be honest.

Synonyms and how they differ

depend

Depend is very close, but it is also used for conditions (it depends on the weather), which rely does not cover.

count on

Count on is more informal and stresses expecting someone to come through.

trust

Trust focuses on belief in someone's honesty, while rely focuses on actually needing them.

lean on

Lean on is informal and suggests emotional or practical support from someone.

Opposites

Word family

reliable adjective

able to be trusted to work or behave well

reliability noun

the quality of being dependable

reliance noun

dependence on someone or something

reliant adjective

needing someone or something to function

unreliable adjective

not able to be trusted

Commonly confused: rely or rally?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “rely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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