pertain

American  

[per-teyn] / pərˈteɪn /

verb (used without object)

• pertains,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pertained,
  past participle,  past
• pertaining
  present participle

1. to have reference or relation; relate.

   documents pertaining to the lawsuit.

2. to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute.

3. to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.

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pertain British  

/ pəˈteɪn /

verb

1. to have reference, relation, or relevance

   issues pertaining to women

2. to be appropriate

   the product pertains to real user needs

3. to belong (to) or be a part (of); be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory (of)

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• pertaining
  present
• pertained
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• pertain
  simple
• pertains
  simple
• have pertained
  perfect
• has pertained
  perfect
• am pertaining
  progressive
• are pertaining
  progressive
• is pertaining
  progressive
• have been pertaining
  perfect progressive
• has been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Past

• pertained
  simple
• had pertained
  perfect
• was pertaining
  progressive
• were pertaining
  progressive
• had been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will pertain
  simple
• will have pertained
  perfect
• will be pertaining
  progressive
• will have been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of pertain

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pertenen, partenen, perteinen, from Middle French partein-, stem of partenir, from Latin pertinēre “to be applicable,” literally, “to hold through, reach,” equivalent to per- per- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Explanation

To pertain is to be relevant or somehow associated with something. If you're a lawyer, you try to find evidence that will pertain to the case and eliminate anything that is not connected. Behind the verb pertain lies the Latin verb pertinēre, which means "to be applicable" or "to hold through." If you think the rules of the road don't pertain to you, try explaining that to the state trooper when you get pulled over. Usage note: The word pertain often takes an s at the end, as in "That pertains to this matter," but loses it with a helper: “That doesn’t pertain to it.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pertain pertains pertained pertaining

Those operations may pertain more to recovering material from the location than trying to rebuild its capabilities, experts outside government said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

The proposed changes pertain to a 2023 rule designed to tamp down NOx -- shorthand for nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide -- from truck tailpipes, beginning with model year 2027.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

All of these estate-planning documents pertain to adults over the age of 18, so Trust & Will’s survey starts with Generation Z, whose members are now between the ages of 16 and 29.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026

Budget reconciliation is governed by strict rules, enforced by a strict parliamentarian, requiring that reconciliation items pertain to taxes and spending.

From Slate ● Mar. 24, 2026

“How does that pertain to the ripping down of my house, James?”

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

An aspect that’s similar between Bertei’s accounts and Andy Beta’s storytelling about Alice Coltrane is that Bertei is unflinchingly honest but does not offer judgment unless it pertains to herself.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026

This pertains mostly to business owners, but it also could apply to homeowners or to freelancers who use a car or other equipment.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026

Yet the weakest section of the memoir pertains to Mr. Junod’s grandmother—Lou’s mother—and her various misdeeds, including her peripheral involvement in a 1935 crime.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

“A technicality. It pertains to both of us. Look inside.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The emails pertained to legal advice regarding compliance with a nonprosecution agreement and legal strategy related to a case that victims brought to challenge that deal, among other things, according to the summaries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026

Most of these concerns pertained to last year, too, yet the market rose.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Now, 11 days after the attack, it has conceded that some data has been impacted but declined to say exactly who the information pertained to, such as customers, suppliers or JLR itself.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2025

In the wake of the Lakers’ trade for Luka Doncic late Saturday night, the immediate fallout pertained to LeBron James and his future with the organization.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2025

Her mom had a lot of rules, but most of them pertained to study habits.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

The Academies claims its report is “relevant to policy and legal decisions pertaining to climate change and liability for losses sustained as a result of extreme weather and climate events.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

In turn, the governor has demanded that the Department of Justice release all records pertaining to the probe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Trump said on social media on Saturday that he had a "very good call" with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others about a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE".

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday he would miss his son's wedding, insisting he had to stay in Washington because of "circumstances pertaining to government."

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

I will boil everything pertaining to food from now on, or bake it.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Related Words

• apply
• refer
• relate