What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lean
Example
She leaned against the wall to catch her breath. [leaned: past tense]
Example
He likes to lean back in his chair while he works. [lean: verb]
Example
I always lean on my best friend for emotional support. [lean on: phrasal verb]
rely
Example
I rely on my alarm clock to wake me up every morning. [rely: verb]
Example
She can always rely on her sister to be there for her. [rely on: phrasal verb]
Example
The success of the project relies heavily on the cooperation of all team members. [relies: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rely is more commonly used than lean in everyday language. Rely is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lean is less common and refers to a specific physical action or posture.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between lean and rely?
While lean is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, rely can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
