relate

[ ri-leyt ]

See synonyms for: relate related relating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

to tell; give an account of (an event, circumstance, etc.).
to bring into or establish association, connection, or relation: to relate events to probable causes.

verb (used without object),re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

to have reference (often followed by to).
to have some relation (often followed by to).

to establish a social or sympathetic relationship with a person or thing: two sisters unable to relate to each other.

Origin of relate

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

synonym study For relate

1. 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.

Other words for relate

1	narrate, delineate, detail, repeat
2	ally

See synonyms for relate on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for relate

2	dissociate

See antonyms for relate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from relate

re·lat·a·ble, adjective
re·lat·er, noun
mis·re·late, verb, mis·re·lat·ed, mis·re·lat·ing.
pre·re·late, verb (used with object), pre·re·lat·ed, pre·re·lat·ing.
un·re·lat·ing, adjective

Words Nearby relate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use relate in a sentence

This word can be used to describe something related to chemicals or chemistry.
Scientists say: Chemical | Bethany Brookshire | September 14, 2020 | Science News For Students
They are going to try to find out who did it, they wrote, but they pulled down all the parts of the story related to Gloria.
Politics Report: Forged Footnote 15 | Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts | September 12, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
Google, Facebook, and Twitter will be under increased pressure to control election-related misinformation, which the three have historically struggled to police.
How Google, Facebook, and Twitter plan to handle misinformation surrounding 2020 presidential election results | Danielle Abril | September 10, 2020 | Fortune
In a sense help with understanding if the fact check is related to the main topic of stories.
Google now uses BERT to match stories with fact checks | Barry Schwartz | September 10, 2020 | Search Engine Land
Users typically have more than one question, and those questions are usually related to whatever stage they’re currently at in their buyer’s journey.
How content consolidation can help boost your rankings | George Nguyen | September 10, 2020 | Search Engine Land

Unsurprisingly many of the prized lots relate to the Second World War.
Churchill’s Secret Treasures for Sale: A British PM’s Life on the Auction Block | Tom Teodorczuk | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I am not remotely embarrassed to relate he weighed just 9lb.
Confessions of a Turkey Killer | Tom Sykes | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
That the song has become so indelible is likely owed to the fact that we can all sort of relate.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love | Kevin Fallon | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The most important signals in the new cabinet thus far relate to the Kurds.
The New Iraq War Could Be Won or Lost This Month by Baghdad Politics | Bartle Bull | October 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We were drawn to music from the outside, so we are able to relate to the outside world.
The Sisterhood of Bulletproof Stockings: It’s Ladies’ Night for Hasidic Rockers | Emily Shire | September 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In this depraved state of mind he arrived at Perpignan, where that befell him which I am about to relate.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
I have dared to relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, and as one who looks at things dispassionately.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
The tall policeman was an artist at the work; but it nearly brought him to a tragic end, as I will relate.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
So that (wonderful to relate) they had no sickness, although there was sufficient cause for it in the privations they suffered.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614 | Various
This did not relate to the boilers; Trevithick unfortunately did not take out a patent for that improvement.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for relate

relate

/ (rɪˈleɪt) /

verb

(tr) to tell or narrate (a story, information, etc)
(often foll by to) to establish association (between two or more things) or (of something) to have relation or reference (to something else)

(intr often foll by to) to form a sympathetic or significant relationship (with other people, things, etc)

Origin of relate

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

Derived forms of relate

relatable, adjective
relater, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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