rely

[ri-lahy] /rɪˈlaɪ/
verb (used without object), relied, relying.
1.
to depend confidently; put trust in (usually followed by on or upon):
You can rely on her work.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English relien < Middle French relier < Latin religāre to bind fast, hold firmly. See re-, ligament
Related forms
misrely, verb (used without object), misrelied, misrelying.
Synonyms
trust, count, bank.
Examples from the web for rely
  • The wisest princes need not think it any diminution to their greatness, or derogation to their sufficiency, to rely upon counsel.
  • In the other chief characters of this story the author seems to rely entirely on natural truthfulness.
  • Blueberries, melons, squashes-all kinds of crops rely heavily on honeybees.
  • But as more and more people came to rely on potatoes as a principal food source, the stage was set for a national tragedy.
  • At this point, good dinosaur movies are going to have to rely on solid storytelling.
  • There are many people in our county that don't have vehicles and rely on others to take them places.
  • By late spring, everyone had agreed to rely on advertising, with the ads discreetly presented.
  • Increasingly, they rely on the police for control and focus on preserving power.
  • Public hospitals are so overcrowded that people are forced to rely on inaccurate tests dispensed at private labs and clinics.
  • More than a thousand federal statutes rely on marriage to define one's status.
British Dictionary definitions for rely

rely

/rɪˈlaɪ/
verb (intransitive; foll by on or upon) -lies, -lying, -lied
1.
to be dependent (on): he relies on his charm
2.
to have trust or confidence (in): you can rely on us
Word Origin
C14: from Old French relier to fasten together, repair, from Latin religāre to tie back, from re- + ligāre to tie
Word Origin and History for rely
v.

early 14c., "to gather, assemble" (transitive and intransitive), from Old French relier "assemble, put together; fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from Latin religare "fasten, bind fast," from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1570s, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on." Typically used with on, perhaps by influence of lie (v.2). Related: Relied; relying.