Related

/rɪˈleɪtɪd/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonConnection
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Connected to something else; having a connection.

/rɪˈleɪtɪd/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
Connection

Connected or associated with something else.

My brother and I are related by blood.

💡 Simply: If two things are related, it means they have something in common or are connected to each other, like how a brother and sister are related.

👶 For kids: When things are related, it means they have something to do with each other, like your toys and your bedroom are related because you keep your toys in your bedroom!

More Examples

2

These two ideas are closely related.

3

The article is related to the current environmental situation.

How It's Used

Family

"They are related by marriage."

Science

"The findings are related to the previous research."

Business

"This issue is related to our project's budget."

2

Describing or presenting something as connected to something else, often in the past.

/rɪˈleɪtɪd/

verb (past participle)neutralmedium
Communication

Describing something as connected.

The detective related the evidence to the suspect.

💡 Simply: When you say something is related, it's like you're explaining how two things go together or are part of the same story. Like, you might say 'The movie I watched related to the book I read.'

👶 For kids: If you say something is related, it means that you are telling something that has something to do with something else.

More Examples

2

She related her personal experience to the wider social context.

3

The speaker related several anecdotes to illustrate the main point.

How It's Used

Journalism

"The article related the events that transpired."

History

"The historian related the historical context of the time."

Tip:Think of 'telling the relation'.

Idioms & expressions

related to...

Connected with; concerning.

"His question was related to the previous speaker's comment."

From Middle English *relaten*, from Latin *relatus* (past participle of *referre* 'to bring back, report'), influenced by *relation*. The Latin root *relatus* itself combines *re-* (again) and *latus* (carried).

Historically, 'related' was used to describe recounting stories or details, then evolved to focus on connections.

Memory tip

Think of relatives - they are all connected.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"carried back, reported, or referred"

closely relateddirectly relatedrelated toseem related

Common misspellings

relattedrelatteded

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written