What does "relating" mean?

1. (connecting things) showing how two or more things are connected or similar. 2. (telling a story) telling a story or describing a series of events. 3. (understanding someone) understanding how someone feels because you have felt the same way. 4. (the act of connecting) the process of making a connection or telling a story.

How do you use "relating"?

Often used with the preposition 'to'. Transitive verb often followed by a direct object (the story) and 'to' (the audience). Intransitive use requiring the preposition 'to'.

relating

v. · n.

US //ɹiˈɫeɪtɪŋ// UK //ɹɪlˈeɪtɪŋ// re·lat·ing

1 connecting things (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

showing how two or more things are connected or similar.

establishing or demonstrating a logical or causal connection between two or more entities.

Example

The teacher is relating the new lesson to what we learned last week.

Example

The researcher is currently relating the sudden increase in local temperatures to broader patterns of global climate change.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'to'.
- separating
- dissociating
2 telling a story (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

telling a story or describing a series of events.

narrating or providing a formal account of events or experiences.

Example

He spent the evening relating his adventures in the mountains to his friends.

Example

The witness began relating the sequence of events with remarkable clarity, despite the significant time that had passed since the incident.

Usage

Transitive verb often followed by a direct object (the story) and 'to' (the audience).

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3 understanding someone (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

understanding how someone feels because you have felt the same way.

feeling or showing sympathy or understanding for a person or their situation.

Example

I have trouble relating to people who are always angry.

Example

Many young readers find themselves relating to the protagonist's struggle for independence and self-discovery.

Usage

Intransitive use requiring the preposition 'to'.
- empathizing
- identifying
4 the act of connecting (n.)
C2 Proficiency Academic

the process of making a connection or telling a story.

the action of establishing a relationship or the act of narration.

Example

The relating of these two facts helped the police solve the crime.

Example

The constant relating of personal trauma can be an exhausting process for patients in long-term therapy.