# relating

/ɹiˈɫeɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relating
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. connecting things

verb · CEFR B2

showing how two or more things are connected or similar.

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

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

### 2. telling a story

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

telling a story or describing a series of events.

For teachers: narrating or providing a formal account of events or experiences.

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

### 3. understanding someone

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: feeling or showing sympathy or understanding for a person or their situation.

- I have trouble relating to people who are always angry.
- Many young readers find themselves relating to the protagonist's struggle for independence and self-discovery.

Usage: Intransitive use requiring the preposition 'to'.

### 4. the act of connecting

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic

the process of making a connection or telling a story.

For teachers: the action of establishing a relationship or the act of narration.

- The relating of these two facts helped the police solve the crime.
- The constant relating of personal trauma can be an exhausting process for patients in long-term therapy.

## Examples

- I can really relate to how you feel about your job.
- Many readers find themselves relating to the main character's struggle to balance work and family life.
- The study succeeds in relating historical economic shifts to the modern housing crisis, providing a clear framework for understanding current market volatility.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.