relate

Definition of relatenext
1
as in to bond
to form a close personal relationship she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to pertain
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 to associate
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb relate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of relate are associate, combine, connect, join, link, and unite. While all these words mean "to bring or come together into some manner of union," relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.

related what he observed to what he already knew

When can associate be used instead of relate?

The synonyms associate and relate are sometimes interchangeable, but associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.

opera is popularly associated with high society

When is combine a more appropriate choice than relate?

In some situations, the words combine and relate are roughly equivalent. However, combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

combined jazz and rock to create a new music

When could connect be used to replace relate?

Although the words connect and relate have much in common, connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.

a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations

When is it sensible to use join instead of relate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relate, join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness.

joined forces in an effort to win

When might link be a better fit than relate?

The words link and relate can be used in similar contexts, but link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.

a name forever linked with liberty

When would unite be a good substitute for relate?

The words unite and relate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.

the colonies united to form a republic

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 relate Those functions are related, but not the same. Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026 That story is too complex to relate here. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 Implementation has always been the key step in anything climate related. Justin Worland, Time, 26 June 2026 How do these elements relate and respond to one another? Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for relate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relate
Verb
  • The type of die CEA-Leti bonded to their wafer was a test vehicle, which records information to evaluate electrical connections.
    Alex Music, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026
  • The basic unit of IBM’s nanostack architecture consists of two transistors stacked and bonded together.
    Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Kainerugaba’s associates describe him as a dedicated military officer who often eschews ostentatious displays of wealth.
    Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Others described people dancing and eating in that part of the park before the crash happened.
    Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Starting next month, the law will prohibit the sale of any food product that isn’t labeled with either phrase — this pertains to products manufactured on or after July 1, 2026.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Evidence pertaining to the Fire Department’s response was not permitted at the trial.
    Sierra Van Der Brug, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • One of the stops captured in police body camera video shows local officers talking about targeting work vans for ICE — vehicles associated with construction, landscaping and other industries reliant on immigrant labor.
    Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • Yet despite his later involvement in politics, McCloskey remains most closely associated with the confrontation that unfolded outside his home in June 2020.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Even so, in a digital world increasingly impacted by algorithms and all manner of AI, the allure of performers and music fans communing — live and in real time — cannot be underestimated.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2026
  • Williams views Leap Life—named after his leap-year birthday—as an attempt to commune with the dead, particularly in light of the ongoing devastation in Palestine, Sudan, Haiti, Congo, and Yemen.
    Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • All of Rojas’ family members were OK, the Venezuelan native told reporters ahead of Friday’s game against the Padres in San Diego.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Sources told Axios that both sides agreed to halt attacks on each other and meet in Qatar on Tuesday to resolve differences over the Strait of Hormuz.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Neel said many community members have made preparations in anticipation of the ruling, including applying for asylum.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
  • An economist that the city hired estimates that the tax increase will add $500 to $650 annually in taxes for the average family of four, despite the sales tax not being applied to groceries or medical supplies.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • To combat bots, Ticketmaster, the primary ticketing platform for many concerts, blocks automated software, identifies and shuts down fake accounts and cancels orders that violate its policies.
    Sydney Goh, CNBC, 27 June 2026
  • Its unusual structure was first identified by a citizen scientist participating in the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory, which allows volunteers to review telescope data and flag unusual features that might otherwise be missed.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Relate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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