1
as in communing
to form a close personal relationship
she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in describing
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
we asked our uncle to relate the story of his visit to communist Russia many years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pertaining
to have a relation or connection
how does your comment relate to what the rest of us have been talking about for the last hour?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in associating
to think of (something) in combination
most Americans probably relate tea to the United Kingdom and coffee to the U.S.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of relating
The Pisces new moon creates opportunities for fulfillment through relating.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
In relating her story this way, Gisèle is restoring to the record her waking life.
—Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
Morello himself serves as kind of a guide in the film, relating his own love of metal growing up as a Black kid in a conservative, ethnically homogeneous suburb of Chicago.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The collision of opposing perspectives forges art that challenges and confronts, that forces us out of familiar ways of thinking, relating and being.
—Richard P. Weigand, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
Reps for both Harry and the King said that the pair met for tea at Clarence House, relating afterwards that no other details would be shared.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Even the oldest maxim about cab drivers and bell hops giving share prices was tested by relating an anecdote about comments in his village pub from locals and complete strangers firing questions at him and a fellow gold trader about the gold price.
—Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
This is a time which reminds us that relating is a skill.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 16 Dec. 2025
The Humane Society of Huron Valley made that announcement on Friday, relating the story of Sugar the kitten and the animal abuse investigation reported in fall of 2024 in Ypsilanti.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
In relating her story this way, Gisèle is restoring to the record her waking life.
—Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
Morello himself serves as kind of a guide in the film, relating his own love of metal growing up as a Black kid in a conservative, ethnically homogeneous suburb of Chicago.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The collision of opposing perspectives forges art that challenges and confronts, that forces us out of familiar ways of thinking, relating and being.
—Richard P. Weigand, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026
Reps for both Harry and the King said that the pair met for tea at Clarence House, relating afterwards that no other details would be shared.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Even the oldest maxim about cab drivers and bell hops giving share prices was tested by relating an anecdote about comments in his village pub from locals and complete strangers firing questions at him and a fellow gold trader about the gold price.
—Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
This is a time which reminds us that relating is a skill.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 16 Dec. 2025
The Humane Society of Huron Valley made that announcement on Friday, relating the story of Sugar the kitten and the animal abuse investigation reported in fall of 2024 in Ypsilanti.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relating
Verb
-
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Jefferson Airplane communing in the Haight.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brown said, describing a potential tipping point if another paycheck is missed.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Studies tell us that hair is among the top three features (along with height and weight) used when describing others, and one of the features most often recalled after a social interaction.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This raises wildfire worries but also concerns pertaining to water resources, particularly in the Colorado River Basin, which has been mired in drought for years on end.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The arrest is one of multiple recent run-ins with law enforcement pertaining to Peters’ activities in Florida.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her other daughter, Beatrice, is reportedly also choosing to focus on her family and would like to keep away from publicly associating with her parents.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Some children are associating key vocabulary words from the page to the pictures on the page.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The all-inclusive Amazing Family Program fosters bonding through activities like yoga, treasure hunts, and family story time.—
Sheryl Nance Nash,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The little guy is healthy, active and already bonding with his experienced mom — and the zoo says the public will get to meet him soon.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because there’s no telling how many times this bell will ring before changes are ushered in.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
American Airlines is telling you why your flight is delayed.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prior work has explored ultrasound sensing mainly on ground robots, but applying it to aerial robots has been difficult due to propeller noise and weak signals.—
Nitin Sanket,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The hurt kid became the class clown, the super friendly boy who was content to pal around with his buddies and leave applying himself to everyone else.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier electrochemical approaches also faced limitations, including low yields and difficulty in clearly identifying the products formed.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In 2022, a rumor surfaced in a Michigan school district that litter boxes were being added to unisex bathrooms for students identifying as cats, the New York Times reported.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relating. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
