relate

verb

ri-ˈlāt How to pronounce relate (audio)
Definition of relatenext
1
as in to bond
to form a close personal relationship she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to describe
to give an oral or written account of in some detail we asked our uncle to relate the story of his visit to communist Russia many years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to pertain
to have a relation or connection how does your comment relate to what the rest of us have been talking about for the last hour?

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to associate
to think of (something) in combination most Americans probably relate tea to the United Kingdom and coffee to the U.S.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb relate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of relate are associate, combine, connect, join, link, and unite. While all these words mean "to bring or come together into some manner of union," relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.

related what he observed to what he already knew

When can associate be used instead of relate?

The synonyms associate and relate are sometimes interchangeable, but associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.

opera is popularly associated with high society

When is combine a more appropriate choice than relate?

In some situations, the words combine and relate are roughly equivalent. However, combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

combined jazz and rock to create a new music

When could connect be used to replace relate?

Although the words connect and relate have much in common, connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.

a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations

When is it sensible to use join instead of relate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relate, join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness.

joined forces in an effort to win

When might link be a better fit than relate?

The words link and relate can be used in similar contexts, but link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.

a name forever linked with liberty

When would unite be a good substitute for relate?

The words unite and relate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.

the colonies united to form a republic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of relate Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. —Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025 Duke has an institutional climate commitment too, efforts include having over 300 climate and sustainability related classes and $3.7 million awarded in seed grants for research on climate. —Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 Paul Weiss drew Trump’s ire not for anything sports related but largely because of former law firm partner—and former federal prosecutor—Mark Pomerantz. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Mar. 2025 The keepers of the winter count are charged not only with recording new events but with relating the community’s history by translating the symbolized events to an oral performance. —Christopher T. Green, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relate
  1. bond
  2. describe
  3. pertain
  4. associate
  5. commune
  6. tell
  7. apply
  8. identify
Verb
  • If Korda happens to bond with his offspring, that’s a bonus.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
  • The two are bonded forever, use catchphrases to communicate and care intensely about each other.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Definition of bond
Verb
  • And that's just the juiciest of the various cases described in a new paper published in the journal Criminal Law Forum.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
  • Hatfield did not say whether San Diego Pride had changed Kehlani’s contract as Gloria described.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Definition of describe
Verb
  • For instance, Santa Ana voters were set to decide on a measure that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, but this pertained solely to voting rights, not election administration.
    — Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Trump’s administration has also focused on social media posts in its investigation, particularly pertaining to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
    — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
Definition of pertain
Verb
  • DuckDuckGo, for instance, was already blocking domains and IP addresses associated with the trackers, preventing the browser from sending any identifiers to Meta.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
  • This Country Was Just Named the Safest Place to Travel in 2025 The danger can also begin well before a traveler leaves home, with fraud associated with early stage trip planning increasing 12 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year.
    — Jessica Puckett, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025
Definition of associate
Verb
  • Onset was settled as a summer camp for Spiritualists, down from Boston for cool bay breezes and the opportunity to commune with the spectral and the dead.
    — Dwyer Murphy May 16, Literary Hub, 16 May 2025
  • In Cannes, at least, artists communing over fine food and wine is still the last refuge.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 May 2025
Definition of commune
Verb
  • Her aunt would often call Valdes’ mom from Florida, telling her their family would be safer here.
    — Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
  • Copying others only tells you what worked yesterday for someone else, when what leaders need to focus on is what will work for them tomorrow.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of tell
Verb
  • The elite wildland firefighters are tasked with applying their tactical knowledge to tamp down the biggest fires in the state.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
  • For instance, in Washington and Oregon, similar rules apply, while some states restrict this maneuver more heavily or require explicit signage allowing it.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 June 2025
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Miami-Dade Fire Rescue pronounced the driver, who was not identified, dead at the scene.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Weaver, who helped launch USAID's NTD Program in 2006, says that one of the principal aims of the program in the early years was to identify the most effective and efficient strategies.
    — Patrick Adams, NPR, 5 June 2025
Definition of identify

Browse Nearby Words

relatable
relate
related
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Cite this Entry

“Relate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of relate for Spanish Speakers

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