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.
Finally, regional press ahead of specific tour stops has been light relative to the scale of the tour itself. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 But its arrivals-to-departures ratio—a measure of hires relative to exits—has fallen sharply, according to Zeki. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Its debt burden is already among the world’s highest; the country has experienced perhaps the fastest increase in debt relative to GDP in history. — Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026 The agencies generally look at a range of metrics to inform their evaluations, including cash flow and leverage ratios, which measure debt relative to a company's equity and operating earnings, among others. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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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