Relative
noun
A person who is connected to you by blood or marriage.
I am going to visit my relatives this weekend
Often appears as...
- distant relative
- close relative
adjective
Considered in relation to something else.
His success was relative to his hard work
Often appears as...
- relative importance
- relative value
noun
A thing's existence, nature or value is judged in comparison with something else.
In comedy, timing is everything - it's all relative
Often appears as...
- relative terms
- relative concept
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Dependent on the circumstances or context, not absolute.
Her happiness was relative to the amount of time she spent with her family
Often appears as...
- relative happiness
- relative peace
noun
A person who is connected to you by blood or marriage.
I am going to visit my relatives this weekend
Often appears as...
- distant relative
- close relative
adjective
Considered in relation to something else.
His success was relative to his hard work
Often appears as...
- relative importance
- relative value
noun
A thing's existence, nature or value is judged in comparison with something else.
In comedy, timing is everything - it's all relative
Often appears as...
- relative terms
- relative concept
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Dependent on the circumstances or context, not absolute.
Her happiness was relative to the amount of time she spent with her family
Often appears as...
- relative happiness
- relative peace
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Family Connection
Use 'relative' for anyone related by blood or marriage, not just immediate family.
She discovered a relative from three generations ago.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Close
'Relative' can imply distance, suggesting a family tie without implying a close relationship.
I've invited a few distant relatives to the wedding.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Tone
Using 'relative' can sound formal or official compared to 'family member.'
Please list all your relatives on the application form.
Pro Tip 1/3Family Connection
Use 'relative' for anyone related by blood or marriage, not just immediate family.
She discovered a relative from three generations ago.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Close
'Relative' can imply distance, suggesting a family tie without implying a close relationship.
I've invited a few distant relatives to the wedding.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Tone
Using 'relative' can sound formal or official compared to 'family member.'
Please list all your relatives on the application form.
Pro Tip 1/3Family Connection
Use 'relative' for anyone related by blood or marriage, not just immediate family.
She discovered a relative from three generations ago.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Close
'Relative' can imply distance, suggesting a family tie without implying a close relationship.
I've invited a few distant relatives to the wedding.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Tone
Using 'relative' can sound formal or official compared to 'family member.'
Please list all your relatives on the application form.
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Video examples
Why are some people...
groups that have a relative advantage tend to grow until that advantage disappears. If people were only fighting and competing throughout human evolution, natural selection would lead to more lefties being the ones that made it until there were so many of them, that it was no longer a rare asset. So in a purely competitive world,
Video examples
Why elephants never...
sometimes even outwitting the researchers and manipulating their partners. And they've grasped basic arithmetic, keeping track of the relative amounts of fruit in two baskets after multiple changes. The rare combination of memory and problem solving can explain some of elephants' most clever behaviors,
Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
the scenarios faced by the ever-diligent and maybe too hospitable night manager serve to remind us of just how hard it is for our relatively finite minds to grasp a concept as large as infinity. Maybe you can help tackle these problems after a good night's sleep. But honestly, we might need you
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
and having bad hair and working out was literally a priority for me at the time as long as we could party chase girls and goof off which we definitely did a lot of things seemed good life seemed good relative to what I knew then of course but it still seemed good my life
Video examples
Neanderthals 101 PIPE...
The north's cold environment may have influenced neanderthals' physique. Their bodies were relatively short, with males averaging five feet, five inches and females five feet, one inch tall, and they were stocky with broad chests, bulky torsos, and muscular limbs.
Video examples
The hidden meanings of...
they are relative to each other. Taoists believe that the universe is made up of energies, vibrations, and matter, which behave differently in different contexts. Something can be yin or yang depending on, well, depending on lots of things.
Video examples
Why do blood types...
knowing both parents' blood types lets us predict the relative probability of their children's blood types. Why do blood types matter? For blood transfusions, finding the correct one is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the locker...
He wanted to leave all of his money to you, but he knew that if he did, your relatives would pester you forever. So he is banking on the fact that he taught you everything you need to know about riddles.
Video examples
How to make stress your...
But first, I want you to make a little confession to me. In the past year, I want you to just raise your hand if you've experienced relatively little stress. Anyone?
Video examples
Yellow Crazy Ants Kill...
millions of years in relative peace but when new challenges arrive they can struggle to cope of all the species that have become
Video examples
Why are some people...
groups that have a relative advantage tend to grow until that advantage disappears. If people were only fighting and competing throughout human evolution, natural selection would lead to more lefties being the ones that made it until there were so many of them, that it was no longer a rare asset. So in a purely competitive world,
Video examples
Why elephants never...
sometimes even outwitting the researchers and manipulating their partners. And they've grasped basic arithmetic, keeping track of the relative amounts of fruit in two baskets after multiple changes. The rare combination of memory and problem solving can explain some of elephants' most clever behaviors,
Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
the scenarios faced by the ever-diligent and maybe too hospitable night manager serve to remind us of just how hard it is for our relatively finite minds to grasp a concept as large as infinity. Maybe you can help tackle these problems after a good night's sleep. But honestly, we might need you
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
and having bad hair and working out was literally a priority for me at the time as long as we could party chase girls and goof off which we definitely did a lot of things seemed good life seemed good relative to what I knew then of course but it still seemed good my life
Video examples
Neanderthals 101 PIPE...
The north's cold environment may have influenced neanderthals' physique. Their bodies were relatively short, with males averaging five feet, five inches and females five feet, one inch tall, and they were stocky with broad chests, bulky torsos, and muscular limbs.
Video examples
The hidden meanings of...
they are relative to each other. Taoists believe that the universe is made up of energies, vibrations, and matter, which behave differently in different contexts. Something can be yin or yang depending on, well, depending on lots of things.
Video examples
Why do blood types...
knowing both parents' blood types lets us predict the relative probability of their children's blood types. Why do blood types matter? For blood transfusions, finding the correct one is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the locker...
He wanted to leave all of his money to you, but he knew that if he did, your relatives would pester you forever. So he is banking on the fact that he taught you everything you need to know about riddles.
Video examples
How to make stress your...
But first, I want you to make a little confession to me. In the past year, I want you to just raise your hand if you've experienced relatively little stress. Anyone?
Video examples
Yellow Crazy Ants Kill...
millions of years in relative peace but when new challenges arrive they can struggle to cope of all the species that have become
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Angela Merkel
German Statesman
I have a relatively sunny spirit, and I always had the expectation that my path through life would be relatively sunny, no matter what happened. I have never allowed myself to be bitter.
Quote examples
Dustin Hoffman
American Actor
And that's another reason to make this movie: We can put plays on film now, at a relatively small cost, and they will reach an audience they would never have reached otherwise.
Quote examples
Margaret Mead
American Scientist
Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we've put it in an impossible situation.
Quote examples
Zara Phillips
British Royalty
In our sport you're very lucky to find a horse of a lifetime and I found mine relatively early. He's done everything for me and I owe him the world.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
If a man's character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.
Quote examples
Michael Dell
American Businessman
Relative to other economies in the world, India has a good feel to it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
I have developed a life which seems to need a relatively high income.
Quote examples
Kate Winslet
Actress
I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a relatively slow reader.
Quote examples
Fareed Zakaria
American Journalist
Politics and power is a realm of relative influence.
Quote examples
Joan Rivers
American Comedian
I live very well, but I support a lot of relatives.
Quote examples
Angela Merkel
German Statesman
I have a relatively sunny spirit, and I always had the expectation that my path through life would be relatively sunny, no matter what happened. I have never allowed myself to be bitter.
Quote examples
Dustin Hoffman
American Actor
And that's another reason to make this movie: We can put plays on film now, at a relatively small cost, and they will reach an audience they would never have reached otherwise.
Quote examples
Margaret Mead
American Scientist
Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we've put it in an impossible situation.
Quote examples
Zara Phillips
British Royalty
In our sport you're very lucky to find a horse of a lifetime and I found mine relatively early. He's done everything for me and I owe him the world.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
If a man's character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.
Quote examples
Michael Dell
American Businessman
Relative to other economies in the world, India has a good feel to it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Irons
English Actor
I have developed a life which seems to need a relatively high income.
Quote examples
Kate Winslet
Actress
I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a relatively slow reader.
Quote examples
Fareed Zakaria
American Journalist
Politics and power is a realm of relative influence.
Quote examples
Joan Rivers
American Comedian
I live very well, but I support a lot of relatives.
Example 1 of 10
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