Rely on meaning
Rely on means to need someone or something to help you or to keep going. It can also mean to trust someone or something to do what you expect.
rely on somebody or something
rely on · relied · relying
Many farmers rely on the rain for their crops.
Rely on meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary.
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1
Need someone or something to help you or to keep going
rely on somebody or something
- Many farmers rely on the rain for their crops.
- I don’t want to rely on my parents for money.
- Our town relies on tourists in the summer.
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2
Trust someone or something to do what you expect
rely on somebody or something
- You can always rely on Maria. She never forgets.
- Can we rely on this old car to get us there?
- Don’t rely on the weather app. It’s often wrong.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use rely on in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is rely on separable?
Rely on is not separable. The person or thing always comes after on: rely on friends, rely on them. Never say rely them on.
To add what you need, use for or to: rely on someone for help, rely on someone to help. Rely upon means the same and is more formal.
Verb tenses for rely on
| Present | I rely on · she relies on |
|---|---|
| Past | relied on |
| Present perfect | have relied on |
| -ing form | relying on |
Common mistakes with rely on
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: You can rely to me.
Right: You can rely on me.
The preposition is on, never to or in.
Wrong: We can’t rely on that he will come.
Right: We can’t rely on him to come.
Rely on is not followed by a that clause. Use rely on someone to do something.
Wrong: She is very relied on her phone.
Right: She relies on her phone a lot.
Rely is a verb, not an adjective. Use reliant on or dependent on for that.
Synonyms and opposites of rely on
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- depend onalmost the same; depend on can also mean it changes with
- count oninformal; trust someone to do what they promised
- trustbelieve someone is honest; no preposition
Opposite
- manage on your owndo something without help from anyone
- let downnot do what someone relied on you to do
Rely on quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Small shops ___ local customers to stay open.
The only preposition after rely is on (or upon).
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2Choose the right sentence.
The pattern is rely on someone to do something.
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3“Tom is so reliable.” What does this mean?
Reliable comes from rely on. A reliable person does what they say.
Find your level
The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.
- get onA2go onto a bus, train, plane, boat or bike
- put onA2dress yourself in clothes, shoes or glasses
- take onB2give someone a job
- go onB1continue, or last for a period of time
- come onB1tell someone to hurry or to try harder
- turn onA2make a light, machine or tap start working
- carry onA2continue doing something
- work onB1spend time making or improving something
Rely on FAQ
Questions people ask about rely on.
Rely on vs depend on: what is the difference?
Usually you can use either. Depend on has one more meaning: be decided by. It depends on the weather. You cannot say it relies on the weather.
Is rely on formal?
It is neutral, a little more formal than count on. Rely upon is the formal written form.
What are the adjective and noun of rely?
Reliable means you can trust it: a reliable car. Reliant on means needing something: reliant on tourism. The nouns are reliance and reliability.
Use rely on in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.