relate to

verb

related to; relating to; relates to

1

: to connect (something) with (something else)

Few of the people who became sick related their symptoms to the food they'd eaten the day before.

2

: to understand and like or have sympathy for (someone or something)

I can relate to your feelings.

I've never been able to relate to him very well.

He writes songs that people can really relate to.

3

—used to describe how someone talks to or behaves toward (someone else)

How a child relates to her teacher can affect her education.

4

: to be connected with (someone or something) : to be about (someone or something)

The readings relate to the class discussions.

—often used as (be) related to

The exam questions are directly related to the readings.

Examples of relate to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Remarkably, Simao is one of five nurses in the hospital's oncology department who can relate to their patients on a deeper level because of past diagnoses. — Rina Nakano, CBS News, 27 June 2026

Sensipar, which is also sold under the generic name cinacalcet hydrochloride, is prescribed to patients with chronic kidney disease and high levels of calcium in the blood related to parathyroid gland conditions, according to the Cleveland Clinic. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

Tactical creativity — Tactical creativity in soccer is related to finding solutions on the pitch to complex individual or team situations. — Eric Zillmer, Scientific American, 26 June 2026

The foundation of long-term career satisfaction relates to personal interests, talents, passions, and purpose. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Rhymes for relate to

• hullabaloo
• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup