Rely
To depend on or trust someone or something for support, help, or success.
verbRely
To depend on or trust someone or something for support, help, or success.
verbImagine This
Imagine you're hiking a steep cliff and you grip a sturdy rope. You rely on that rope to keep you from falling; your safety depends on it.
Sounds Like
Rih-LYE (sounds like rhymes with 'sly' or 'fly')
Looks Like
Looks like the root 'rely' and is related to words like reliable and reliance.
Remember This
Rely is commonly paired with on or upon (rely on / rely upon). It often appears in contexts of trust or dependence, not just physical support.
Other Forms
Connect With
depend on, trust, count on, lean on, bank on, rely upon, confide in
Note
Do not mix up with 'rely' + 'with' (incorrect). The standard collocation is 'rely on' or 'rely upon'. For SAT readability, favor 'rely on' in most contexts. The noun form is 'reliance'.