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.
Simple tilt fix Researchers found that tilting a cell relative to gravity boosts performance. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 That means effectively all of WSM's growth was market share gain relative to everyone else. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 What matters most in this competition is the performance of the American high-tech sector relative to its Chinese competitors. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 The jobs ratio used to select productions appears to favor animation since the category is often more labor-intensive than live-action, generating higher below-the-line spending relative to the total production budget. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

relative to

preposition
: in relation to
the angle of the pole relative to the ground
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