rely on/upon

phrasal verb

relied on/upon; relying on/upon; relies on/upon

1

: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc. : to depend on (someone or something)

My mother relied on me for financial support.

They rely on a well for all their water.

2

: to trust or believe (someone or something)

She's someone you can rely on.

I relied heavily upon your advice.

You could always rely on him to disagree.

3

: to expect (something) with confidence : to be certain that (something) will happen or exist

The economy may improve next year, but it's not something you can rely on.

Examples of rely on/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Riding the ‘Gus Bus’ Gustavsson started for the eighth time in the Wild’s last nine games, with Hynes continuing to rely on him down the stretch. —Joe Smith, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025

Whatever President Donald Trump does, the consequences will be significant for older adults and younger people with disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health care. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

As part of its strategy to rely on its own manufacturing capabilities and supply chain, the group plans to build a new luxury footwear and leather goods production facility in Sala Baganza, near Parma. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 18 Mar. 2025

Listen to this article TALLAHASSEE — Congress plans to cut billions from federal food-assistance programs and shift that burden to the states over the next several years — a move that could hurt the 2.9 million Florida residents who rely on them. —Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025