Relate vs. Relay — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
Relate means to make a connection or find relevance, while Relay means to transmit or pass on information or responsibility.
Difference Between Relate and Relay
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Relate and Relay are verbs that serve different functions in language. Relate typically means to establish a link or connection between two or more entities. It can refer to personal experiences, stories, or finding similarities. Relay, on the other hand, pertains to the act of transmitting information, a message, or passing on responsibility, typically from one person to another.
When you "relate" to someone's story, you find elements of it that resonate with your own experiences or emotions. Conversely, when you "relay" a story, you pass on or retell the details of that story to someone else. So, while relating involves personal identification or connection, relaying is more about transmission.
Relate often has undertones of empathy or understanding. For instance, when you relate to a character in a movie, you see parts of yourself in that character. Relay, however, doesn't concern itself with empathy. It's a more functional term, denoting the act of transferring, like relaying a baton in a race.
In some contexts, Relate can also be used to describe or narrate. For example, one might relate the events of a trip to a friend. On the contrary, Relay always focuses on the act of transmission or passage, be it messages, objects, or even responsibilities.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Establish a link or connection.
Transmit information or responsibility.
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Emotional Tone
Often involves empathy or understanding.
Functional, without personal emotion attached.
Usage
Connection, narration, identification.
Transfer, passage, transmission.
Example
Relating to a story or person.
Relaying a message or task.
Grammatical Form
Often used reflexively (e.g., relate to).
Typically transitive (e.g., relay to).
Compare with Definitions
Relate
Establish a connection between things.
It's hard to relate these two events without more information.
Relay
Transfer or pass on information or a message.
I will relay your message to the manager.
Relate
Narrate or describe.
She related her adventures abroad to the class.
Relay
Pass on a task or responsibility.
I relayed the responsibility to the new supervisor.
Relate
Identify with someone or something.
I can relate to your feelings of frustration.
Relay
An act of passing something along from one person or group to another.
The relay of information was crucial to the mission's success.
Relate
Have relevance or concern.
How does this relate to the main topic?
Relay
A race or competition where members of a team take turns.
Our team won the 4x100 meter relay.
Relate
Be genetically connected.
The two species relate in terms of their evolutionary path.
Relay
A device receiving and transmitting a signal.
The relay malfunctioned, causing the lights to flicker.
Relate
Relate is a charity providing relationship support throughout the United Kingdom. Services include counselling for couples, families, young people and individuals, sex therapy, mediation and training courses.
Relay
A relay is an electrically operated switch. It consists of a set of input terminals for a single or multiple control signals, and a set of operating contact terminals.
Relate
Make or show a connection between
A supercomputer could relate all those factors
The study examines social change within the city and relates it to developments in the country as a whole
Relay
An act of passing something along from one person, group, or station to another.
Relate
Feel sympathy for or identify with
Kids related to him because he was so rebellious
Relay
A relay race.
Relate
Give an account of; narrate
Various versions of the story have been related by the locals
Relay
A division of a relay race.
Relate
To give an account of (an occurrence, for example); narrate.
Relay
(Electronics) A device that responds to a small current or voltage change by activating switches or other devices in an electric circuit.
Relate
To establish or demonstrate a connection between
I related his grumpiness to a lack of sleep.
Relay
A crew of workers who relieve another crew; a shift.
Relate
To have connection, relation, or reference
How education relates to income.
A question relating to foreign policy.
Relay
A fresh team, as of horses or dogs, to relieve weary animals in a hunt, task, or journey.
Relate
To have or establish a social relationship; interact
She relates well to her peers.
Relay
To pass along by or as if by relay
Relayed the message to his boss.
Relate
To understand or react favorably to someone or something
I just can't relate to these new fashions.
Relay
To supply with fresh relays.
Relate
(transitive) To tell in a descriptive way.
The captain related an old yarn.
Please relate the circumstances of your journey here today.
Relay
(Electronics) To control or retransmit by means of a relay.
Relate
(transitive) To bring into a relation, association, or connection (between one thing and another).
Relay
A new set of hounds.
Relate
(intransitive) To have a connection.
The patterns on the screen relate to the pitch and volume of the music being played.
Relay
A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired.
Relate
(intransitive) To interact.
Relay
(by extension) A new set of anything.
Relate
(intransitive) To respond through reaction.
Relay
A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.
Relate
To identify with; to understand.
I find it difficult to relate to others because I'm extremely introverted.
Relay
(athletics) A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. Most common events are 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter competitions.
Relate
(obsolete) To bring back; to restore.
Relay
(electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.
Relate
To bring back; to restore.
Abate your zealous haste, till morrow next againBoth light of heaven and strength of men relate.
Relay
(transitive) To pass on or transfer (information).
The CCTV cameras relay what's going on to the headquarters.
Can you relay this message to John?
Relate
To refer; to ascribe, as to a source.
Relay
To release a new set of hounds.
Relate
To recount; to narrate; to tell over.
This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
Relay
To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another.
Relate
To ally by connection or kindred.
Relay
To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses.
Relate
To stand in some relation; to have bearing or concern; to pertain; to refer; - with to.
All negative or privative words relate positive ideas.
Relay
Alternative spelling of re-lay
Relate
To make reference; to take account.
Reckoning by the years of their own consecration without relating to any imperial account.
Relay
To lay again; to lay a second time; as, to relay a pavement.
Relate
Make a logical or causal connection;
I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
Colligate these facts
I cannot relate these events at all
Relay
A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief.
Relate
Have to do with or be relevant to;
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Relay
In various forms of telegraphic apparatus, a magnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into into action the power of a local battery for performing the work of making the record; also, a similar device by which the current in one circuit is made to open or close another circuit in which a current is passing.
Relate
Give an account of;
The witness related the events
Relay
Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an auxiliary apparatus put into action by a feeble force but itself capable of exerting greater force, used to control a comparatively powerful machine or appliance.
Relate
Be in a relationship with;
How are these two observations related?
Relay
The act of relaying something
Relate
Have or establish a relationship to;
She relates well to her peers
Relay
Electrical device such that current flowing through it in one circuit can switch on and off a current in a second circuit
Relay
Pass along;
Please relay the news to the villagers
Relay
Control or operate by relay
Common Curiosities
Can "relate" mean to have a family connection?
Yes, in terms of genetics or ancestry, two people can be related.
Can "relay" be a noun?
Yes, as in a "relay race" or an electronic "relay."
When I "relate" to something, does it mean I have experienced it?
Not necessarily, it means you find a connection or similarity, which could be based on emotions, experiences, or understanding.
Is "relay" only about passing information?
No, "relay" can also refer to passing responsibility or physical objects, like in a relay race.
Is a relay a physical device?
It can be, especially in electronics, where a relay can receive and transmit signals.
Can "relay" mean to reproduce or duplicate?
Not directly. While relaying involves passing something on, it doesn't mean to make an exact duplicate.
Which word is more about understanding, "relate" or "relay"?
"Relate" often implies understanding or personal connection.
Can businesses "relate" and "relay"?
Yes, businesses can "relate" (connect) to customer needs and "relay" (pass on) information.
Can both "relate" and "relay" be used to talk about stories?
Yes, but while you "relate" (tell) a story, you "relay" (pass on) a story.
Does "relate" always involve emotions?
Not always, though it often implies a personal connection or understanding.
Is "relaying" always a two-step process?
Typically, yes. It involves receiving information or responsibility and then passing it on.
Is "relate" always used with "to"?
Often, but not always. For example, "She related her story" doesn't use "to."
If I "relate" two ideas, am I comparing them?
Not necessarily. You're establishing a connection, which might not be a direct comparison.
Can you "relay" feelings?
While you can "relay" (communicate) the fact that you have feelings, the emotional understanding is more "relating."
Are there physical relays in sports?
Yes, like in a relay race where athletes pass a baton.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
