# rely on sb/sth

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rely-on-sb-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to trust or depend on someone or something to help you or do what you expect.

For teachers: to depend on with full trust or confidence; to be dependent on something as a necessity for success or survival.

## Examples

- You can always rely on him to arrive on time.
- Many elderly people in this village rely on the local bus service to get to the shops.
- The success of the entire project relies on the seamless integration of the new software with our existing legacy systems.

## Pitfalls

- Not "It relies of the weather." but "It relies on the weather." — the verb 'rely' must be followed by the preposition 'on', never 'of' or 'from'.

## Usage notes

- often followed by a person, a piece of equipment, or a specific result.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'depend on'; while often interchangeable, 'rely' carries a stronger sense of trust and active expectation of reliability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.