relate

[ ri-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

1. to tell; give an account of (an event, circumstance, etc.).

   Synonyms: repeat, detail, delineate, narrate

2. to bring into or establish association, connection, or relation:

   to relate events to probable causes.

   Synonyms: ally

   Antonyms: dissociate

verb (used without object)

, re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

1. to have reference (often followed by to ).
2. to have some relation (often followed by to ).
3. to establish a social or sympathetic relationship with a person or thing:

   two sisters unable to relate to each other.

relate

/ rɪˈleɪt /

verb

1. tr to tell or narrate (a story, information, etc)
2. often foll by to to establish association (between two or more things) or (of something) to have relation or reference (to something else)
3. introften foll byto to form a sympathetic or significant relationship (with other people, things, etc)

Derived Forms

• reˈlatable, adjective
• reˈlater, noun

Other Words From

• re·lat·a·ble adjective
• re·lat·er noun
• mis·re·late verb misrelated misrelating
• pre·re·late verb (used with object) prerelated prerelating
• un·re·lat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of relate¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin relātus, past participle of referre “to carry back” ( refer )

Word History and Origins

Origin of relate¹

C16: from Latin relātus brought back, from referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear; see refer

Synonym Study

Relate, recite, recount, rehearse mean to tell, report, or describe in some detail an occurrence or circumstance. To relate is to give an account of happenings, events, circumstances, etc.: to relate one's adventures. To recite may mean to give details consecutively, but more often applies to the repetition from memory of something learned with verbal exactness: to recite a poem. To recount is usually to set forth consecutively the details of an occurrence, argument, experience, etc., to give an account in detail: to recount an unpleasant experience. Rehearse implies some formality and exactness in telling, sometimes with repeated performance as for practice before final delivery: to rehearse one's side of a story.

Example Sentences

"We are excited because this may be related to the drastic ejection of material from the dying star before a supernova explosion."

From Science Daily

He was convicted of war crimes relating to the use of children in that country's conflict and sentenced in July to 14 years.

From BBC

While related and often paired together, war crimes and crimes against humanity are separately defined.

From Salon

Typically, closely related animal species have difficulty coexisting because they are competing for the same or similar resources.

From Science Daily

The results can be useful for preventing forest damages and financial losses related to the forest industry.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• affect
• apply
• ascribe
• assign
• associate
• compare
• concern
• connect
• link
• pertain
• refer