What does reliable mean?
Word: Reliable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Reliable means able to be trusted to do what is expected or to work well every time.
Synonyms: trustworthy, steady
Antonyms: unreliable
How do you spell reliable?
Syllables: re - li - a - ble
Tricky part: It comes from rely, but the y changes to i before -able. Writing relyable keeps the y by mistake.
Watch out for: relyable, reliabel
Memory tip: Rely turns its y into i before an ending, just as it does in relies and relied.
Reliable in a sentence
Example 1: Our old scooter is slow but reliable; it starts every morning.
Example 2: Ask Kabir to keep score, because he is always reliable.
Example 3: Check facts on a reliable website before using them in your project.
Fun Fact
Reliable comes from rely, which goes back to the Latin word religare, meaning to bind fast.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) valuable
b) capable
c) realiable
d) suitable
Show answer
c) realiable. The word starts rel-, as in rely; there is no a after the e.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. reliable 2. relief 3. religion 4. relevant
a) 4213
b) 4132
c) 4123
d) 1423
Show answer
c) 4123. All four start with rel; relevant comes first because e is before i, and then reli-a, reli-e and reli-g give reliable, relief, religion.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
leirabel
a) easy to see through
b) likely to break or go wrong
c) too heavy to lift
d) sure to work properly whenever it is needed
Show answer
d) sure to work properly whenever it is needed. The eight letters can be rearranged into reliable.
Word Puzzle
Match each word in 1-3 with a word in A-C:
1. reliable 2. weary 3. swift A. tired B. dependable C. fast
a) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
b) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
c) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
d) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
Show answer
c) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C. These are synonyms: reliable and dependable, weary and tired, swift and fast.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A reliable friend is one who ____.
a) tells many jokes
b) lives far away
c) you can always count on
d) often forgets you
Show answer
c) you can always count on
2. To check a spelling, the most reliable thing to do is ____.
a) writing it the way it sounds
b) copying it from a friend
c) looking it up in a dictionary
d) saying it out loud once
Show answer
c) looking it up in a dictionary
