rely on

phraseB1Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

To rely on somebody is to trust them to do what is needed. You are not planning to check.

It takes a person or a thing, and the phrase carries real weight, since telling somebody they can be relied on is high praise and saying you cannot rely on them is a serious judgement. It is close to count on and depend on, and depend on is the most formal of the three. The adjective reliable and the noun reliance belong to it.

Definitions of rely on

1phraserely onTo depend on somebody or something with confidence.B1
“You can rely on her to be there on time.”

Practised in Phrasal Verbs, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 11 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

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rely on

phraseB1Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

To rely on somebody is to trust them to do what is needed. You are not planning to check.

Definitions of rely on

1phraserely onTo depend on somebody or something with confidence.B1
“You can rely on her to be there on time.”

Practised in Phrasal Verbs, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 11 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word