relate to
phrasal 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 toThe exam questions are directly related to the readings.
Examples of relate to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The exact cause is also unknown, but it is believed to be related to inflammation in the facial nerve, potentially due to viral infections.
—
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
There are further examples within Paqueta’s case, but the principle relates to a wider point on the use of data in football.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Because late summer into early fall marks corn harvest season across much of the northern United States, many Native American tribes traditionally referred to the full moon in August or September with names related to corn, according to the Almanac.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relate to
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Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
There are further examples within Paqueta’s case, but the principle relates to a wider point on the use of data in football.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Because late summer into early fall marks corn harvest season across much of the northern United States, many Native American tribes traditionally referred to the full moon in August or September with names related to corn, according to the Almanac.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relate to
Cite this Entry
“Relate to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relate%20to. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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