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

Because tariffs are, effectively, a tax on U.S. businesses that rely on foreign goods to operate, the argument goes, the President cannot wrest this power from Congress. —Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025

In Afghanistan, where over 23 million people rely on aid, the cuts will end food support for millions, halt care for malnourished children, and disrupt maternal health services. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025

Companies worldwide are bracing for the knock on effects from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plans, which threaten to suppress demand for computers and other electronics that largely rely on Asian countries for manufacturing. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025

Trump’s first term 2024 400b 0 $500b 300b 200b 100b 0 100b China retaliated against President Trump's tariffs on Wednesday with a new 84% levy on exports from the U.S., threatening American jobs and industry that rely on the crucial trade partner. —April Rubin, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025