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 to

The exam questions are directly related to the readings.

Examples of relate to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Are dire wolves related to modern wolves? Because of skeletal similarities, scientists had thought that dire wolves were relatives of modern gray wolves. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2025

Children are more vulnerable than adults to the impacts of heat illness and more at risk of injuries related to outdoor work. —Georgia Christakis, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025

The science of nitrous oxide: short high, long-term risks Nitrous oxide works by inhibiting NMDA receptors in the brain, which play a key role in how our brain processes signals related to pain and memory. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025

Studios and publishers based abroad could see massive drops in board game sales, as these tariffs will affect the cost of many products Americans use daily — not just the ones related to their hobbies. —Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for relate to

• hullabaloo
• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup