relate to

phrasal verb

related to; relating to; relates to

: 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.

: 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.

—used to describe how someone talks to or behaves toward (someone else)

How a child relates to her teacher can affect her education.

: 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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Francis also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of failure to appear related to his flight from custody in 2022. —

Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 In August, the board voted 4-1 to prohibit certain types of instruction related to critical race theory and social and emotional learning. —

Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. —

Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024 They are especially trained to assist their handlers with tasks related to their disabilities, and distractions—such as sudden petting or interaction—can interfere with the dog's ability to perform its duties. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for relate to