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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relate
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
During the sketch, Thompson called out the fact that Darius and Murphy's Morgan, who wore a shimmery red jacket and a comically large gold medallion, seemed like they might be related.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relate
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
During the sketch, Thompson called out the fact that Darius and Murphy's Morgan, who wore a shimmery red jacket and a comically large gold medallion, seemed like they might be related.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relate
Verb
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If Korda happens to bond with his offspring, that’s a bonus.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
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The two are bonded forever, use catchphrases to communicate and care intensely about each other.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Ukrainian officials described it as the largest aerial assault since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.—
SAMYA KULLAB,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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Inside the truck, officers found a smoke grenade, shields and other gear as well as documents describing a plan to incite a disturbance at the park.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2025
Verb
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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
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The panel's judgement pertained to two lawsuits — one filed by a group of states led by Arizona and Oregon, and other led by several small businesses.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
29 May 2025
Verb
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That's because psychological benefits are associated with having a college fund.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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The dog learns through repetition and rewards to associate smell with a person and follow the scent, building up in distance and the scent’s duration.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
Verb
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In Cannes, at least, artists communing over fine food and wine is still the last refuge.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
14 May 2025
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Apparently some people communed with spirits to locate the first underground oil reserves.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In 2024, a highly intoxicated passenger on an All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo to Seattle reportedly bit a flight attendant in the arm an hour after takeoff, the Japanese airline told The Japan Times.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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More than 300 miscarriages had been attributed to a lack of nutrients, the ministry told CNN on Sunday.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Verb
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His client in the case, Harry Wiley, a West Virginia coal miner, was diagnosed with an early stage of black lung and applied to NIOSH for a transfer to an environment with less dust exposure but never received a response.—
Taylor Sisk,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
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Some eighteen hundred years later, Nietzsche had his migraines treated with leeches applied to his ears.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Verb
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The release didn't name the woman or identify any suspects in the shooting.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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This evaluation was prompted by issues identified in previous unannounced inspections of BOP facilities, as well as the deaths of two BOP inmates, Robert Hanssen and Frederick Bardell, from colorectal cancer.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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