Relate: meaning, definitions and examples

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relate

[rɪˈleɪt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

in relationships

to make a connection between two or more things, especially in people's minds

Synonyms

associate, connect, link.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
relate	Used when talking about making a personal or emotional connection with someone or something, often sharing similar experiences or feelings. She can relate to the struggles of being a single parent. It's easy to relate to the characters in this book.
connect	Used when describing the action of bringing two or more things together in a physical, logical, or emotional way. They managed to connect the two devices using Bluetooth. We need to connect these ideas to build a cohesive argument.
associate	Used when referring to the mental connection or relationship one makes between two things or when grouping items together based on a common feature. People often associate chocolate with feelings of happiness. He is often associated with positive change in the company.
link	Used when describing a logical, figurative, or literal connection between two elements, suggesting a chain or sequence. The report found a link between the chemicals and health issues. She clicked on the link to open the webpage.

Examples of usage

The two events are not related.
I don't see how the two issues are related.
Is he related to you in any way?

^{Context #2 | Verb}

in families

to be connected by a family relationship

Synonyms

be connected, be kin, be related.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
relate	Used to describe the act of making a connection between two things or telling a story. He can relate his experiences in a very engaging way. She couldn't relate the information to what she had learned before.
be connected	Describes a physical or logical link between things, objects, or ideas. The two cities are connected by a high-speed train. Their research is connected to the previous studies on climate change.
be related	Describes either a familial relationship or a non-physical connection between concepts or objects. They discovered they are related through their great-grandparents. The topics seem different, but they are actually related to each other.
be kin	Used to describe a familial relationship. This phrase is somewhat formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation. He might be kin, but I haven't seen him in years. The reunion brought together many who were kin.

Examples of usage

They are related through their mother's side.
Are you related to the Smiths?

^{Context #3 | Verb}

in stories

to show or prove a connection between two or more things

Synonyms

connect, relate back, tie together.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
relate	Used when showing how one thing is connected to something else or when sharing personal experiences. She can easily relate to your situation because she went through something similar. How do these points relate to our main topic?
connect	Employed when linking two or more things together, often in a more physical or digital sense, but also can be emotional or logical links. You need to connect the cables to the back of the TV. The speaker tried to connect with the audience by sharing a personal story.
tie together	Used when making different pieces of information or story elements blend or make sense as a whole. The concluding paragraph ties together all the main ideas of the essay. Let's tie together these concepts to see the bigger picture.
relate back	Applied when referencing or revisiting a previous point or topic. I just want to relate back to what we discussed in the last meeting. The issue of trust often relates back to childhood experiences.

Examples of usage

The twist at the end related all the characters in the story.
The final episode related back to the pilot.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'relatus', which means 'brought back or carried back', originally referring to telling a story.
In Old French, it was 'relater', meaning to recount or tell a narrative.
The evolution of the word reflects its shift from storytelling to understanding connections between ideas and experiences.

Psychology

Relating to others can foster empathy, helping us to understand different perspectives and feelings.
Researchers find that strong relational connections improve emotional well-being and reduce stress.
In social psychology, the ability to relate is crucial for building interpersonal relationships and communication.

Pop Culture

Many popular songs and movies center around themes of connection and relatability, tapping into shared human experiences.
The concept is often explored in social media, where people seek to share relatable content to connect with others.
Reality shows often thrive on relatability, showcasing everyday situations that viewers can identify with.

Literature

In novels, characters often grow through relationships that reveal how they relate to each other, driving the plot forward.
Literary themes such as love, friendship, and conflict often hinge on the characters’ ability to relate to one another.
Many authors use relatable narratives to engage readers, making them feel a part of the story.

Education

In learning environments, teachers encourage students to relate new information to their own experiences for better understanding.
Active learning techniques often emphasize relating concepts to real-life applications to enhance retention.
Group discussions in classrooms emphasize the importance of relating to peers for collaborative learning.

Translations

Translations of the word "relate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 relacionar

🇮🇳 संबंधित करना

🇩🇪 beziehen

🇮🇩 menghubungkan

🇺🇦 пов'язувати

🇵🇱 odnosić się

🇯🇵 関連づける

🇫🇷 relier

🇪🇸 relacionar

🇹🇷 ilişkilendirmek

🇰🇷 연관시키다

🇸🇦 ربط

🇨🇿 vztahovat se

🇸🇰 vzťahovať sa

🇨🇳 关联

🇸🇮 povezovati

🇮🇸 tengja

🇰🇿 байланыстыру

🇬🇪 დაკავშირება

🇦🇿 əlaqələndirmək

🇲🇽 relacionar

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,278, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

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3275 helping
3276 handed
3277 purely
3278 relate
3279 fate
3280 versus
3281 architecture
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