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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | relier, from Latin religare 'to tie back' |
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re‧ly S2 W2
past tense and past participle relied, present participle relying, third person singular relies
past tense and past participle relied, present participle relying, third person singular reliesrely on/upon somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to trust or depend on someone or something to do what you need or expect them to do [↪ reliable, reliance]: I knew I could rely on David.
I knew I could rely on David. rely on somebody/something to do something Many working women rely on relatives to help take care of their children.
Many working women rely on relatives to help take care of their children.2 to depend on something in order to continue to live or exist :
rely on/upon somebody/something for They have to rely on the river for their water.
They have to rely on the river for their water.