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

Moreover, many franchise models rely on outdated systems that fail to leverage the efficiencies of modern technology, leaving owners bogged down with administrative tasks and logistical headaches. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025

Those teams, notably outside the New York and Los Angeles big-market orbit, seem content to rely on rookies paid at the 2025 minimum of $760,000. —Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Some of Project Liberty’s tech projects rely on blockchain to allow users to move and control their online identity from site to site. —Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025

The group of about 10, most of whom are native Spanish speakers with limited fluency in English, rely on translations to follow the proceedings. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025