reliable

1 of 2

adjective

re·​li·​able ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce reliable (audio)
Synonyms of reliable
1
: suitable or fit to be relied on : dependable
2
: giving the same result on successive trials
reliableness noun
reliably
ri-ˈlī-ə-blē How to pronounce reliable (audio)
adverb

reliable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is reliable

Synonyms of reliable

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of reliable in a Sentence

Adjective He's not very reliable. You can't always count on him to do what he says he'll do. We can't write a report without reliable data. We need more reliable information before we can take action.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The project also reflects the increasing importance of reliable manufacturing capacity in industries that depend on sophisticated electronic, sensing and space-related technologies. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 Rather than putting the rock into the arms of one of his reliable running backs and brute-forcing the 2 yards, Danielson kept the ball in fifth-year quarterback Maddux Madsen’s hands. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
Then there are the old reliables that haven’t necessarily been nominated in recent years but are always in the conversation such as Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Real Time with Bill Maher and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. — Peter White, Deadline, 11 June 2026 With 50 seconds remaining in the Warriors’ play-in game against the host Clippers at Intuit Dome, Golden State’s two aging Hall of Famers went back to old reliable. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reliable

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reliable was in 1569

Rhymes for reliable

See All Rhymes for reliable

Browse Nearby Words

reliability coefficient
reliable
reliableness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reliable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reliable. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reliable

adjective
re·​li·​able
ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl
: fit to be trusted : dependable
reliableness noun
reliably
-blē
adverb

Medical Definition

reliable

adjective
re·​li·​able ri-ˈlī-ə-bəl How to pronounce reliable (audio)
: giving the same result on successive trials
a reliable psychological test
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