Rely
/rɪˈlaɪ/
Definitions
To depend on someone or something; to trust or have confidence in.
/rɪˈlaɪ/
To depend on with full trust or confidence.
You can always rely on your older sister to help you.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a friend who always keeps their promises. You rely on them to be there for you because you can always trust them. When you rely on something or someone, you trust them to work or to be there for you, kind of like how you trust your favorite ice cream to taste good every time.
👶 For kids: To need something or someone to help you or to trust them to do something.
More Examples
The company relies on its strong marketing team to promote its products.
We rely on good weather for the picnic.
How It's Used
"I rely on my car to get me to work every day."
"The company relies on its strong sales team to meet its quarterly targets."
"Children often rely on their parents for care and support."
Idioms & expressions
rely on someone's good word
To trust in a person's promise or statement to achieve something or to provide something.
"I had to rely on her good word that she'd submit the documents on time."
From Middle English *relien*, from Old French *relier* ('to bind again, connect'), from Latin *religare* ('to bind again'), from *re-* ('again') + *ligare* ('to bind').
The word 'rely' has been used in English since the 14th century, initially to mean 'to bind together again'. The sense of depending on something developed later.
Memory tip
Think of 're-' as 'again' and 'ly' as 'lean'. You're leaning on something again and again.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: religare