rely
rih-LY
/rɪˈlaɪ/
To depend on with full trust or confidence.
A fundamental, everyday word indicating functional dependence on someone or something.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'relier' (to bind together), which comes from the Latin 'religare' (to tie back, bind fast). When you rely on someone, you are figuratively bound or tied to them.
Word relationships
- depend: Depend is more general and can refer to physical or logical necessity, whereas rely emphasizes active trust and confidence in the outcome.
- trust: Trust is the emotional or moral belief in someone, while rely is the practical action of depending on them to perform.
- distrust: Distrust means to actively doubt or lack confidence in someone.
- independent: To be independent means to not need to rely on anyone else.
Commonly confused with
- reply: Rely means to depend on, whereas reply means to answer or respond.
Word family
- reliable (adjective): Consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted.
- reliance (noun): The state of depending on something or someone.
Collocations
- rely heavily on
- rely on assistance
- rely on data
Idioms & expressions
- bank on
- lean on
Example sentences
- "Many commuters rely on the subway system to get to work on time." A simple statement about public transportation.
- "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,—that is genius. Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark. What pretty oracles nature yields us on this text, in the face and behavior of children, babes, and even brutes! That divided and rebel mind, that distrust of a sentiment because our intellect cannot shear it of its details, is the weakness of our structure. We must rely on our own internal compass." From a classic philosophical perspective on self-reliance.
Memory hook
Think of a RELay race where you must RELy on your teammate to pass the baton. REL-y: In a REL-ay race, you must REL-y on your partner.
When not to use
It is rarely incorrect, but in highly formal or legal contexts, 'depend' or 'be contingent upon' might be preferred.
Fun facts
- Rely shares its ultimate Latin root, 'ligare' (to bind), with the words 'ligament' (which binds bones together) and 'religion' (which binds people to a belief system).
Related words
Explore more words
reliant, entrust, self-reliant, interdependent, confidant, steady
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