rely on/upon
phrasal verb
relied on/upon; relying on/upon; relies on/upon
1
: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc. : to depend on (someone or something)
My mother relied on me for financial support.
They rely on a well for all their water.
2
: to trust or believe (someone or something)
She's someone you can rely on.
I relied heavily upon your advice.
You could always rely on him to disagree.
3
: to expect (something) with confidence : to be certain that (something) will happen or exist
The economy may improve next year, but it's not something you can rely on.
Examples of rely on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their clients rely on the supplier for the initial equipment, ongoing maintenance and spare parts—plus innovations that keep their production lines efficient and competitive.
—
Pascal Yammine, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
People who want to remember what the internet looked like a decade ago often rely on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, but even the future of that database feels uncertain.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
These companies face the hurdles of a decade of technical baggage in the code, millions of devices in customers’ homes, and voice assistants that people already rely on for basic controls.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2024
Many rely on depleting savings, support from family members, or under-the-table jobs, according to those who spoke to ABC News.
—Trisha Mukherjee, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rely on/upon 
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Pascal Yammine, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
People who want to remember what the internet looked like a decade ago often rely on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, but even the future of that database feels uncertain.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
These companies face the hurdles of a decade of technical baggage in the code, millions of devices in customers’ homes, and voice assistants that people already rely on for basic controls.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2024
Many rely on depleting savings, support from family members, or under-the-table jobs, according to those who spoke to ABC News.
—Trisha Mukherjee, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rely on/upon
Dictionary Entries Near rely on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Rely on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rely%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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