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

Still, she was able to relate to Marian, the quiet yet flinty younger sister who looks up to the fiery Dolours.

From Los Angeles Times

He said it took him months to decide whether to write his memoir, but decided he wanted to help other people who may be able to relate to a journey like his.

From BBC

Parasocial relationships are the way we relate to the famous now; their social feeds mingle with our friends and family until they all seem sorta like the same thing.

From Slate

The attempted murder charges relate to eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, Ms Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

From BBC

“Our study completes the work of Albert Einstein in his attempt to relate gravity and electromagnetism forces in the same geometric theory,” Monjo, a professor of mathematics at Saint Louis University in Spain, told Salon.

From Salon

Related Words

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