# relevant

/ˈɹɛɫəvənt/ (US) · /ɹˈɛlɪvənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. connected to a topic

adjective · CEFR B2 · General-service

connected to what is happening or being talked about.

For teachers: closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand; pertinent.

- Please only include information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
- The witness provided several details that were not strictly relevant to the case, leading the judge to ask the lawyer to move on.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the connection.

### 2. current and useful

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

still important or useful in the modern world.

For teachers: having significant importance or utility in a contemporary context; not obsolete.

- The author's ideas about nature are still relevant more than a hundred years later.
- Despite being written in the nineteenth century, the novel's exploration of social inequality remains deeply relevant to modern readers.

Teaching tip: In academic writing, this often refers to whether a theory or study still holds value today.

### 3. popular or famous

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

popular, famous, or talked about right now.

For teachers: maintaining a high level of public visibility, influence, or popularity within contemporary culture.

- The singer released a new album just to stay relevant in the music industry.
- Many former reality stars struggle to stay relevant once their initial season has finished airing and the public's attention shifts elsewhere.

Teaching tip: This is common in social media contexts when discussing celebrities or influencers staying in the public eye.

## Examples

- Please only ask questions that are relevant to the topic.
- The lawyer argued that the witness's personal history was not relevant to the specific charges in the case.
- In a rapidly shifting job market, workers must constantly acquire new skills to remain relevant to the needs of modern employers.

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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.