rely — to depend on someone or something with full trust or confidence
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to depend on someone or something with full trust or confidence
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈlaɪ/
Example Sentences
- My mom relies on Google Maps even to find our own house.
- Students rely on coffee to survive exam period.
- I rely on my dog to wake me up, but he's lazier than my alarm clock.
rely
VERB[/rɪˈlaɪ/]
to depend on someone or something with full trust or confidence
The little boy relied on his father to help him cross the river.
The tired hiker relied on his friend and leaned on his shoulder. (LEAN → RELY → if you can lean on someone, you can rely on them)
The campers relied on their food supply to get by in the forest.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'relier' meaning 'to bind together' or 'to fasten,' derived from Latin 're-' (back) and 'ligare' (to bind or tie). The sense evolved to mean 'to depend on' through the idea of being bound to someone or something.
Breakdown
re- (back, again) + ly (from Old French -lier, to bind) = rely (to bind oneself back to, to depend on)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom relies on Google Maps even to find our own house.”
“Students rely on coffee to survive exam period.”
“I rely on my dog to wake me up, but he's lazier than my alarm clock.”
“We rely on renewable energy for a sustainable future.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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