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
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Recent Examples of relating
Meanwhile, Hildebrandt was a family and couples counselor who founded ConneXions and had made a name for herself by relating the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to her clients' issues.
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 6 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
First, by illustrating how a tragedy changed forever the lives of Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), and second, relating how that devastating event served as the cathartic inspiration for one of the most legendary dramatic works of all time.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
On expedition, the hunter who joined me on polar bear watch was relating a story from his grandfather who told him the telling sign of narwhal appearance.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Working Within The Trade And With Private Clients Enhancing and relating the company legacy is vitally important to Amenc, who started working for Golay Fils & Stahl in 2001.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In a statement, a lawyer for Ortiz said his client’s guilty plea was highly tailored, relating only to his transactions with Pérez in the context of concert performances.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
But for all of these outcomes, the plots relating steps to risk are curves, not straight lines.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 6 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
First, by illustrating how a tragedy changed forever the lives of Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), and second, relating how that devastating event served as the cathartic inspiration for one of the most legendary dramatic works of all time.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
On expedition, the hunter who joined me on polar bear watch was relating a story from his grandfather who told him the telling sign of narwhal appearance.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Working Within The Trade And With Private Clients Enhancing and relating the company legacy is vitally important to Amenc, who started working for Golay Fils & Stahl in 2001.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
In a statement, a lawyer for Ortiz said his client’s guilty plea was highly tailored, relating only to his transactions with Pérez in the context of concert performances.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
But for all of these outcomes, the plots relating steps to risk are curves, not straight lines.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relating
Verb
-
From Jesus to Wordsworth, people wandered into the wilderness in hopes of communing with a greater power, to be forced to confront their truest selves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Even the film’s central idea of a child communing with giant, surreal automatons — such a eerily resonant image, recalling James Whale’s original Frankenstein — is ultimately a nonstarter.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
There is a difference between describing love and experiencing it.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In their study describing the findings, published in Ecology and Evolution, the authors argue that these later marks are brighter because male deer antlers have fully hardened and their rubs can expose more inner wood.—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People at work have made rude comments pertaining to my hearing.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In one of his first acts as mayor, Zohran Mamdani on Thursday revoked nine executive orders his predecessor, Eric Adams, issued after his federal corruption indictment, a move that undid actions pertaining to everything from antisemitism and immigration to New York City’s horse carriage industry.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Additionally, the dolphins may also be associating with non-dolphin-eating orcas to learn to distinguish their sounds from those of the threatening mammal-eating killer whales.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Hellfire Club Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is the only one still associating himself with the Hellfire Club at Hawkins High School, because the rest of the student body still thinks Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is responsible for killing Vecna’s victims last season.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For five years, Addie Bojorquez had been bonding with Tommy, her favorite horse, at a ranch near her family’s home in Hollister, California.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Other reasons for singing include courtship rituals, bonding with mates and young, and alerting others to predators or keeping in contact with their flock.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Before her resignation, Adams Kellum and others from LAHSA defended the agency by telling key results.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Engage by telling stories, adding unique insights, sharing actionable results, showing nuance, and asking questions.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Regularly applying sealer to your grout and keeping the area clean is your best chance at preventing mold and mildew growth along your grout.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
My hair feels brittle, my skin is dry from the cold weather, and my makeup is not applying right.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officers were reportedly reviewing security camera footage in the area in hopes of identifying a suspect.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Last April, the Wyn Beauty founder shared a sweet video on her Instagram with her daughter Adira, as the little one practiced identifying colors.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relating. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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