verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪt
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 L EY1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 L EY1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To tell in a descriptive way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The captain related an old yarn.
Please relate the circumstances of your journey here today.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To be relevant specifically to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
These regulations relate only to exported goods.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To bring into a relation, association, or connection (between one thing and another).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To have a connection.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The patterns on the screen relate to the pitch and volume of the music being played.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ally, refer, pertain
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To interact.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, jargon
Examples
Children who find it hard to relate end up being inadequately socialized.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To respond through reaction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To identify with; to understand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
I find it difficult to relate to others because I'm extremely introverted.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To bring back; to restore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
make a logical or causal connection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
colligate these facts
I cannot relate these events at all
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: associate, tie in, link, colligate, link up, connect
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: think, cogitate, cerebrate
Narrower terms: remember, interrelate, correlate, identify, free-associate, think of, have in mind, mean
10
verb
Meaning 10
give an account of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The witness related the events
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tell, narrate, recount, recite
11
verb
Meaning 11
have or establish a relationship to
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She relates well to her peers
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interact
Narrower terms: harmonize, harmonise, oblige, bind, hold, obligate, connect, disrespect, mesh, take back, get along with, get on with, get on, get along, tie, attach, bond
12
verb
Meaning 12
be relevant to
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: refer, pertain, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have-to doe with
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: focus on, center on, revolve around, revolve about, concentrate on, center, apply, hold, go for, involve, affect, regard, matter to, interest
13
verb
Meaning 13
be in a relationship with
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
How are these two observations related?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interrelate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: be
Narrower terms: predicate, tutor, tie in
History
Etymology
From Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“carry back; report”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of refer. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others.
Across languages
Translations
52 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
описвам
(opisvam)
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Dutch:
vertellen
— to tell in a descriptive manner
German:
berichten
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Gothic:
𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌻𐌻𐍉𐌽
(spillōn)
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Italian:
riferire
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Latin:
narrō
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Latin:
referō
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Māori:
āmiki
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Māori:
āmiku
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Māori:
whiti
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Persian:
روایت کردن
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Portuguese:
relatar
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Sanskrit:
गदति
(gadati)
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Spanish:
relatar
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Ukrainian:
розповіда́ти
(rozpovidáty)
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Ukrainian:
розка́зувати
(rozkázuvaty)
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Welsh:
adrodd
— to tell in a descriptive manner
Bulgarian:
свързвам
(svǎrzvam)
— to give an association
Finnish:
tuoda mieleen
— to give an association
Japanese:
繋げる
(tsunageru)
— to give an association
Portuguese:
relacionar
— to give an association
Spanish:
relacionar
— to give an association
Ukrainian:
асоціюва́ти
(asocijuváty)
— to give an association
Ukrainian:
пов'я́зувати
(povʺjázuvaty)
— to give an association
Bulgarian:
отнасям към
(otnasjam kǎm)
— to make a connection from something to something else
Finnish:
liittää
— to make a connection from something to something else
Finnish:
yhdistää
— to make a connection from something to something else
Finnish:
samaistaa
— to make a connection from something to something else
Japanese:
繋げる
(tsunageru)
— to make a connection from something to something else
Japanese:
結び付ける
(musubi tsukeru)
— to make a connection from something to something else
Japanese:
関連付ける
(kanren-zukeru)
— to make a connection from something to something else
Pennsylvania German:
aabelange
— to make a connection from something to something else
Spanish:
relacionar
— to make a connection from something to something else
Ukrainian:
пов'я́зувати
(povʺjázuvaty)
— to make a connection from something to something else
Bulgarian:
свързан съм
(svǎrzan sǎm)
— to have a connection
Chinese Mandarin:
有關 /有关
(yǒuguān)
— to have a connection
Finnish:
liittyä
— to have a connection
Finnish:
yhdistyä
— to have a connection
Finnish:
samastua
— to have a connection
Finnish:
samaistua
— to have a connection
Pennsylvania German:
aabelange
— to have a connection
Spanish:
relacionarse
— to have a connection
Ukrainian:
відно́ситися
(vidnósytysja)
— to have a connection
Finnish:
vastata
— to respond through reaction
Finnish:
reagoida
— to respond through reaction
Catalan:
identificar-se (amb)
— to identify with, understand
Finnish:
ymmärtää
— to identify with, understand
Finnish:
samastua
— to identify with, understand
Hebrew:
הזדהה
(hizdahá)
— to identify with, understand
Portuguese:
identificar-se
— to identify with, understand
Spanish:
identificarse [con]
— to identify with, understand