English Reference
Adverb

reliably

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ɹiˈɫaɪəbɫi/ UK /ɹɪlˈaɪəbli/ re·li·ably

adv.in a way that you can trust or depend on. You use this to describe someone or something that always does what it is supposed to do.

adv.in a consistent and dependable manner. Indicates that an action or result can be trusted to occur as expected without failure.


SIMPLE

The old car still starts reliably every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The local train service runs reliably, so most commuters do not feel the need to own a car.

COMPLEX

To ensure the experiment succeeds, the sensors must be calibrated to record data reliably even under extreme fluctuations in temperature and pressure.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies or the direct object.

Usage reliably distinguish · reliably predict

The harder question is whether a dozen different machines from different builders can do the same thing reliably for years.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026

Larger, controlled trials will be needed to determine whether psilocybin can reliably create that opening.

Smithsonian Magazine· 11 Aug 2026

Common in science and technology writing

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated