Word family noun relation relations relationship relative adjective related ≠ unrelated relative verb relate adverb relatively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrelationshipre‧la‧tion‧ship /rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 [countable]RELATIONSHIP the way in which two people or two groups feel about each other and behave towards each otherrelationship with I have quite a good relationship with my parents.relationship between the special relationship between Britain and the US2 [countable, uncountable]CONNECTED WITH the way in which two or more things are connected and affect each otherrelationship between the relationship between diet and health problemsrelationship to He’s studying politics and its relationship to the media. The lessons bear little relationship (=they are not connected to) the children’s needs.3 [countable]RELATIONSHIP a situation in which two people spend time together or live together, and have romantic or sexual feelings for each other He’s never had a sexual relationship before.relationship with She doesn’t really want a relationship with me.in a relationship Are you in a relationship right now?4 [uncountable]RELATIONSHIP the way in which you are related to someone in your familyrelationship to ‘What’s your relationship to Sue?’ ‘She’s my cousin.’COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the way in which two people or two groups feel about each other and behave towards each otherverbshave a relationshipWe’ve always had a good relationship with our neighbours.develop/form/build a relationshipBy that age, children start developing relationships outside the family.forge a relationship (=develop a strong relationship)We want to forge closer relationships with our allies.cement a relationship (=make it firm and strong)We want to cement relationships with other transport associations.make relationshipsI found it impossible to make new relationships.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + relationshipgood/greatOver the years, we’ve developed a good relationship.closeLaura had a very close relationship with her grandmother. friendly/harmoniousMy friendly relationship with Scott’s family continued after his death.strongOur relationship is strong enough to survive anything.a love-hate relationship (=when someone both likes and dislikes someone else)The local people have a love-hate relationship with tourists.a special relationship (=a particularly close relationship)I did not want to risk losing this special relationship we shared.a supportive relationshipPeople lacking supportive relationships were expected to be prone to depression.a working relationship (=a relationship appropriate for people who work together)She’s a fine actress and we developed a great working relationship.family relationshipsTravelling a lot for business can strain family relationships.a personal relationshipDrinking affects personal relationships.human relationshipsHuman relationships fascinate me.a social relationshipSatisfactory social relationships with adults are very important.a business/professional relationshipBoth companies want to continue their business relationship into the future.the doctor-patient/parent-child/teacher-student etc relationshipA family crisis can adversely affect the developing parent-child relationship. THESAURUSrelationship when two people spend time together or live together because they are romantically or sexually attracted to each otherAfter her marriage broke up, she had a series of disastrous relationships. | relationship withI don’t want to start a relationship with her, because I’m going back to South Africa. | relationship betweenRelationships between people of different cultures are often extremely difficult. | be in a relationshipWhy are all the interesting men I meet already in relationships? | sexual relationshipSeveral of the psychiatrists admitted to having sexual relationships with patients. | romantic relationshipEven at 35, Bobby seemed unable to commit to a romantic relationship.affair a secret sexual relationship between two people, when one or both of them is married to someone elseThe affair had been going on for years before her husband found out. | affair withI had no idea that Mike had an affair with Carolyn! | love affairBurton had been involved in a love affair with a woman who ended up taking most of his money.fling a short and not very serious relationshipYes, I did go out with him, but it was just a fling.She wasn’t interested in anything more than a casual fling. | fling withShe left her husband after she learned about his fling with an exotic dancer. | have a flingThey had a fling years ago.romance an exciting and often short relationship between two people who feel very much in love with each otherIt was a beautiful summer romance, but they knew it couldn’t last.Richard and Penny had made no great secret of their romance, even though they were both married. | romance withMy romance with Lois did not survive our high school graduation. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the way in which two or more things are connected and affect each otheradjectivesa close relationshipThe evidence points to a close relationship between poverty and disease.a strong/significant relationshipStudies show a significant relationship between smoking and heart disease.a direct relationship (=when one thing has an effect or influence on another, without any other things being involved)There is a direct relationship between the demand for a particular product and its price.an inverse relationship technical (=so that when one is great, the other is small)We concluded that there will be an inverse relationship between the market price of the bond and its true yield.a causal relationship (=when one thing causes another)the causal relationship between cigarette smoking and lung cancerverbsbear no/little relationship to somethingThe allegations bore no relationship to the facts.establish a relationship (=prove that it exists)The book tries to establish a relationship between the war and social unrest in Europe.a relationship existsNo relationship exists between the size of the prison population and the level of crime. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: a situation in which two people spend time together or live together, and have romantic or sexual feelings for each otherverbsbe in a relationshipValerie and I have been in a relationship for five years.end/break off a relationshipShe was very upset when I ended the relationship.start/begin a relationshipShe is in no hurry to start another relationship.adjectivesa sexual relationshipHe admitted having a sexual relationship with a patient.a serious/steady relationship (=one that lasts quite a long time)It was his first serious relationship.a long-term relationshipI have a seven-year-old daughter from a previous long-term relationship.an on–off relationship (=happening sometimes and not at other times)Their on–off relationship seemed to have come to an end two years ago.a stormy/turbulent relationship (=one that involves many arguments)It had been a stormy relationship and there were frequent drunken rows. Examples from the Corpus
relationship• Relationships between people of different cultures are often extremely difficult.• I don't want to start a relationship with her, because I'm going back to South Africa.• She was worried that the company wouldn't see any relationship between her work experience and the job she was applying for.• They'd known each other for years and had a very close relationship.• It is difficult to make progress in your career if you leave a trail of damaged relationships behind you.• After her marriage broke up, she had a series of disastrous relationships.• Women are usually more interested in discussing relationships than men.• Successful companies know the importance of establishing good relationships with their customers.• He dumped his beautician wife Jewel for her three years ago - but his relationship with Tessa has now ended.• His relationship with Amy wasn't going to last forever.• His relationship with his parents had never been very good.• Why are all the interesting men I meet already in relationships?• These accusations against me have no relationship to the truth.• No such certainty blessed our relationship with Dad.• This, it is said, is the key factor governing the doctor-patient relationship.• Professional relationships should not be affected by personal feelings.• Even at 35, Bobby seemed unable to commit to a romantic relationship.• The courts will not, in general, specifically enforce an ordinary master-servant relationship.• Several of the psychiatrists admitted to having sexual relationships with patients.• Interest rates and government spending are connected, but the relationship is quite a complex one.• There has been a fundamental shift in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.• The relationship between public investment and private development is important in considering how a canal would be financed.• What relationship exists between the painting and the vision of reality that the artist has before his eyes?relationship with• We've developed a good relationship with our customers.relationship to• "What's your relationship to Sue?" "She's my cousin."in a relationship• On top of this comes a major change in relationships.• Fortunately, the changing times have meant changes in relationships, too.• Modernism is usually explained in relationship to painting.• Seventeen years' investment in a relationship and what do I have at the end?• No, I'm not married, but I'm in a relationship right now.• Neither partner in a relationship has rights over the other's body and the permission of the partner is not legally necessary.• The universe was created for a purpose, and this purpose is to realise intrinsic values among persons in relationship and community.• Experience is necessarily an act of relating in a relationship that can never be free of paradox.• As soon as she felt secure in a relationship, she began to feel restless and uneasy.From Longman Business Dictionaryrelationshipre‧la‧tion‧ship /rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/ noun [countable] the way in which people, companies, countries etc that are working together behave towards each otherrelationship with/between/amongA key to success will be our relationship with our suppliers and our customers.Good personal relationships among office members are important. 