relied; relying
1
: to be dependent
the system on which we rely for water
2
: to have confidence based on experience
someone you can rely on
Examples of rely in a Sentence
rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Paxton was hardly dominant, giving up two runs and four hits in five innings, striking out three and walking two, relying primarily on a four-seam fastball that averaged just 92.6 mph, down from his season average of 93.3 mph.
—
Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024
Published in Ecological Entomology, the study relied on a citizen science project in Taiwan.
—Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 7 July 2024
The small municipality of Refugio County, north of Corpus Christi, called on all 6,700 of its residents to leave for safer areas; other locales relied on voluntary evacuations.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 7 July 2024
Additionally, people shouldn’t rely on a single snapshot that might miss a high-functioning person’s decline.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for rely 
Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024
Published in Ecological Entomology, the study relied on a citizen science project in Taiwan.
—Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 7 July 2024
The small municipality of Refugio County, north of Corpus Christi, called on all 6,700 of its residents to leave for safer areas; other locales relied on voluntary evacuations.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 7 July 2024
Additionally, people shouldn’t rely on a single snapshot that might miss a high-functioning person’s decline.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for rely
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rely
Cite this Entry
“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rely
verb
re·ly
ri-ˈlī 
relied; relying
1
: to have confidence based on experience
someone you can rely on
2
: to be dependent
the system on which we rely for water
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share