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
Nearly 70 percent of the questions Huizenga received during a telephone town hall on Friday were related to concerns over Social Security cuts.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
She was additionally fined $40,000 and ordered to pay the $120,000 judgment, as well as give a DNA sample relating to her felony charge.
—Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Designed to inflict maximum operational disruption, Medusa can terminate over 200 Windows services and processes, including those related to security software, Miller concluded.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Tesoro Corporation, which was later purchased by Marathon, agreed to pay $9 million to fund community benefits in District 15 in exchange for the city not pursuing litigation related to the merger of its Wilmington and Carson refineries.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
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Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
She was additionally fined $40,000 and ordered to pay the $120,000 judgment, as well as give a DNA sample relating to her felony charge.
—Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Designed to inflict maximum operational disruption, Medusa can terminate over 200 Windows services and processes, including those related to security software, Miller concluded.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Tesoro Corporation, which was later purchased by Marathon, agreed to pay $9 million to fund community benefits in District 15 in exchange for the city not pursuing litigation related to the merger of its Wilmington and Carson refineries.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 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 22 Mar. 2025.
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