Phrase guide

rely on

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be confident in.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I know I can rely on you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be dependent upon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The city relies on the subway system.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

be dependent on, as for support or maintenance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • elderly parents often depend on their adult children

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: depend on

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

put trust in with confidence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she is someone you can really rely on when times get rough
  • you can rely on his discretion

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: depend on, depend upon, rely upon

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: fidi — to be confident in
  • French: se fier à — to be confident in
  • French: compter sur — to be confident in
  • German: sich verlassen auf — to be confident in
  • German: zählen auf — to be confident in
  • Gothic: 𐍄𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌰𐌽 (trauan) — to be confident in
  • Indonesian: mengandalkan — to be confident in
  • Irish: dóchas a bheith agat as — to be confident in
  • Irish: iontaoibh a bheith agat as — to be confident in
  • Irish: téigh i muinín — to be confident in
  • Polish: liczyć na — to be confident in
  • Polish: polegać na — to be confident in
  • Serbo-Croatian: osloniti se na — to be confident in
  • Spanish: depender de — to be confident in
  • Spanish: atenerse a — to be confident in
  • Spanish: confiar en — to be confident in
  • Telugu: విశ్వసించు (viśvasiñcu) — to be confident in
  • Spanish: depender de — to be dependent upon
  • Spanish: ser dependiente de — to be dependent upon