1. Home
2. Idioms
3. relate to

relate to

---

---

relate something to someone

to tell something to someone; to narrate something to someone. Very slowly, she related the events of the past week to her parents. I have an interesting story to relate to you.

relate something to something

to associate something to something. I relate this particular problem to the failure of the company to provide proper training. This point is related to what I just told you.

relate to someone or something

to understand, accept, or feel kinship with someone or something. He relates to people well. I really don't relate to your thinking at all.

relate to somebody

to understand and feel sympathy for someone identify with somebody The kids need a teacher who can relate to them.

relate to something

to feel that you understand a situation identify with something You're looking for a job? I can relate to that!

relate to

v.

1. To have a connection, relation, or reference to something: My question relates to your earlier work.

2. To establish a connection, relation, or reference between one thing and another: She related the painful experience to having a tooth pulled at the dentist.

3. To narrate or relay some information to someone; tell something to someone: When he related the story to us, he left out the part about himself.

4. To have or establish a reciprocal relationship with someone; interact with someone: Your child seems to relate well to her peers.

5. To empathize or identify with someone or something: I simply can't relate to such an extreme viewpoint.