relative to

preposition

: with regard to : in connection with

Examples of relative to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
White unemployment did not budge in the first half of this year relative to last. — Lydia Sidhom, Washington Post, 2 July 2026 Events designed to support female founders are routinely underfunded relative to the ambitions behind them. — Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 So, while there's no universal rule, the debt's interest rate relative to realistic investment returns is usually the clearest tiebreaker. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The bank added that S&P 500 companies are generating less free cash flow relative to net income compared to historical trends. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for relative to

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of relative to was in 1649

Rhymes for relative to

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Browse Nearby Words

relative term
relative to
relative velocity
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Cite this Entry

“Relative to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relative%20to. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

relative to

preposition
: in relation to
the angle of the pole relative to the ground
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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