totally reliant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally reliant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a complete dependence on someone or something. Example: "In this project, we are totally reliant on the data provided by our research team to make informed decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Like Egypt on the Nile, arid Pakistan is totally reliant on the Indus and its tributaries.

The New York Times

"Another reason for favoring Clarke is that Australia are almost totally reliant on him".

The New York Times - Sports

During operations, they remain almost totally reliant on NATO troops, who suffer twice as many casualties.

The Economist

Bill Chalmers, this novel's frantically multitasking hero, is totally reliant on cellphones, pagers and computers.

The New York Times - Books

In a region totally reliant on natural gas, an electric would be equivalent to a 50 m.p.g.

The New York Times

People in care homes are often more isolated, more dependent and often totally reliant on those that care for them.

The Guardian

Also, when the debate was over, the staff cut the power, and reporters found themselves totally reliant on their laptop batteries to write their stories.

The New York Times

One major tactic used by violent men is to control the household finances so that the woman is totally reliant on him and has no means of escape.

The Guardian - Opinion

If nothing is done, Social Security will have exhausted its store of bonds in 2037, leaving it totally reliant on payroll tax revenue to pay benefits.

The New York Times

Aviation - unlike its ground-based transport alternatives - is currently totally reliant on fuels with the energy density offered by a fossil fuel such as kerosene.

The Guardian

The party leaders included Jews — handpicked by Stalin possibly because they would be even more hated by the Hungarian population and thus totally reliant on Moscow.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing; "totally reliant" can sometimes sound overly dramatic. Alternatives like "completely dependent" might be more suitable for formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "totally reliant" when the dependence is partial or conditional. Using a less absolute term such as "largely reliant" can provide a more accurate representation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally reliant" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of complete dependence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly valid and widely used. The examples show its use in describing dependence on resources, people, or technologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally reliant" is a common and grammatically sound way to express complete dependence. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, with a strong presence in news and media, science, and formal business settings. While "totally reliant" is generally acceptable, consider alternative phrases like "completely dependent" or "entirely dependent" for a more nuanced tone. Be mindful of potentially overstating dependence when using "totally reliant", and always ensure the context clearly indicates the object of reliance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely dependent

Emphasizes the completeness of the dependence; interchangeable in most contexts.

entirely dependent

Stresses the exclusive nature of the dependence; very similar in meaning.

fully dependent

Highlights the full extent of the dependence; close in meaning but slightly less emphatic.

utterly dependent

Adds a stronger emphasis on the degree of dependence; slightly more dramatic.

wholly dependent

Similar to 'entirely', denoting complete dependence; may sound slightly formal.

exclusively reliant

Focuses on the exclusivity of the reliance; useful when highlighting the lack of alternatives.

solely dependent

Like 'exclusively', emphasizes the single source of support or dependence.

completely banking on

Idiomatic phrase implying reliance on a specific outcome or expectation.

absolutely counting on

Suggests a firm expectation and reliance on someone or something.

heavily relying on

Indicates a significant degree of reliance, though not necessarily total.

FAQs

What does "totally reliant" mean?

The phrase "totally reliant" means completely dependent on someone or something for support, help, or resources.

What can I say instead of "totally reliant"?

You can use alternatives like "completely dependent", "entirely dependent", or "fully dependent" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "totally reliant on"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "totally reliant on". The preposition "on" is typically used to indicate the object of reliance.

How can I use "totally reliant" in a sentence?

For example: "The project is "totally reliant" on external funding to succeed." or "The community is "totally reliant" on the local hospital for healthcare services".