Meaning
to depend very much on something
Primary Function
Adverb-verb collocation for expressing strong dependence
Communicative Purpose
To indicate that an entity depends critically, highlighting potential vulnerability if the source changes or is unavailable.
Pattern
heavily rely on
Core Structure
heavily rely on
Função primária
Adverb-verb collocation for expressing strong dependence
Propósito comunicativo
To indicate that an entity depends critically, highlighting potential vulnerability if the source changes or is unavailable.
Situações de gatilho
Discussions about resource allocation, project planning where multiple inputs contribute to success, technology assessments evaluating reliance on specific systems.
Contextos
Academic (e.g., research papers), professional settings such as business reports and technical documentation, everyday conversation when discussing dependencies.
Padrão
heavily rely on
Estrutura central
heavily rely on
Slots de substituição
noun phrase (the entity being relied upon, e.g., resources, support, technology)
Colocados típicos
- heavily on fossil fuels
- heavily on imports
- heavily on volunteers
Substituições comuns
- depend heavily
- lean heavily on
Erros comuns
'heavy rely' (adverb needed); omitting the preposition 'on'.
Similar / contraste
critically depend on; be heavily dependent on
Interferências
Verb ‘rely’ requires the preposition ‘on’. Learners from languages that do not use this construction may mistakenly place adjectives or other particles.
Família do chunk
- critically depend on
- lean heavily on
- count on
Nuance
Suggests a degree of vulnerability – if the relied‑upon source disappears, outcomes can suffer significantly.
Efeito pragmático
Emphasises critical support and potential risk, often used to caution stakeholders about over‑dependence.
Dica de memória
Depend heavily on
Nota
Coming soon...
Upgrade path
depend on → need very much → heavily rely on
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