verb
bank
To rely confidently on someone or something.
You can bank on her arriving before the meeting starts.
Etymology
Italian banca named the bench associated with money changing. Banking came to mean entrusting money to an institution; banking on people extends that confidence to reliance on their support or performance.
More examples
- We banked on good weather for the picnic.
- Do not bank on getting an immediate answer.
- They are banking on a strong holiday season.
Forms
bank · banks · banked · banking
Similar words
- rely
- The usual neutral verb for depending on someone or something.
- count on
- An ordinary phrase for confident reliance.