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
In the meantime, the Kings will look to rely on Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, and Markelle Fultz in the backcourt.
—
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Yet the case stands to influence legal challenges to the Liberation Day tariffs, too, because the President relied on the same mechanism for both the earlier and more recent tariff announcements, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Iranian artists and intellectuals tend to rely on subtlety, embedding meaning within layers of metaphor and covert language: a necessity in a place where direct expression often comes at great risk.
—Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
Changes were set to go into effect March 31 and would impact more than 72 million people who rely on Social Security.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rely
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Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Yet the case stands to influence legal challenges to the Liberation Day tariffs, too, because the President relied on the same mechanism for both the earlier and more recent tariff announcements, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Iranian artists and intellectuals tend to rely on subtlety, embedding meaning within layers of metaphor and covert language: a necessity in a place where direct expression often comes at great risk.
—Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
Changes were set to go into effect March 31 and would impact more than 72 million people who rely on Social Security.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rely
Cite this Entry
“Rely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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
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