rely: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “rely” mean?
To depend on or trust in someone or something with confidence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To depend on or trust in someone or something with confidence.
To be based on or contingent upon a particular factor or condition; to have faith in the continued support or operation of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The preposition 'upon' is slightly more formal and slightly more common in British English, but 'on' is standard in both.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpora, but a common word in both.
Grammar
How to Use “rely” in a Sentence
rely on/upon somebody/somethingrely on/upon somebody/something to do somethingrely on/upon somebody/something for somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rely” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You can rely upon her discretion.
- The timetable relies on trains running to schedule.
American English
- You can rely on her discretion.
- The schedule relies on trains running on time.
adverb
British English
- He performed reliably under pressure.
- The system has been working reliably for years.
American English
- She reliably submits her reports on time.
- The software runs reliably on the new update.
adjective
British English
- She is a reliable colleague.
- We need a more reliable internet connection.
American English
- He is a reliable employee.
- We need more reliable public transportation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
‘We cannot rely on a single supplier for critical components.’
Academic
‘The study’s conclusions rely on a robust statistical model.’
Everyday
‘I’m relying on you to pick up the kids from school.’
Technical
‘The encryption protocol relies on a public-private key pair.’
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rely”
- Omitting the preposition 'on' (e.g., 'I rely you' ❌).
- Using 'to' instead of 'on' (e.g., 'I rely to you' ❌).
- Confusing spelling with 'relay'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often interchangeable. 'Rely on' emphasizes trust and confidence, while 'depend on' can be more neutral, indicating a factual relationship of necessity or contingency.
No, 'rely' is an intransitive verb that requires a prepositional phrase beginning with 'on' or 'upon' to complete its meaning.
No, both are correct. 'Upon' is slightly more formal, but 'on' is more common in modern usage.
The noun is 'reliance'. The adjective is 'reliable'. The adverb is 'reliably'.
To depend on or trust in someone or something with confidence.
Rely is usually formal to neutral in register.
Rely: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈlaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈlaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rely on your own two feet (be independent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-LY: you have to LY (lie/place) yourself back (RE-) onto someone you trust.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS A FOUNDATION (We build our plans on reliable support).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition MUST follow the verb 'rely'?