/rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/ noun
the way in which people behave towards each other
ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + relationship
a good/great relationship
Over the years, we’ve developed a good relationship.
a close relationship
Laura had a very close relationship with her grandmother.
a friendly relationship also a harmonious relationship formal
My friendly relationship with Scott’s family continued after his death.
a strong relationship
Our relationship is strong enough to survive anything.
a special relationship (=a particularly close relationship)
I did not want to risk losing this special relationship we shared.
a supportive relationship
People who lack supportive relationships may be at risk of depression.
a love–hate relationship (=when someone both likes and dislikes someone else)
The local people have a love–hate relationship with tourists.
family relationships
Travelling a lot for business can strain family relationships.
human relationships
Human relationships fascinate me.
a personal relationship
Drinking affects personal relationships.
a working relationship (=a relationship appropriate for people who work together)
She’s a fine actress and we developed a great working relationship.
a social relationship
He is not very good at forming social relationships.
a business/professional relationship
Both companies want to continue their business relationship into the future.
the doctor-patient/parent-child/teacher-student etc relationship
Problems between adults can also harm the developing parent-child relationship.
VERBS
have/enjoy a relationship
We’ve always had a good relationship with our neighbours.
develop/form/build a relationship
By that age, children start developing relationships outside the family.
make relationships
I found it hard to make new relationships.
establish a relationship
A shopkeeper needs to establish a friendly relationship with his customers.
forge a relationship (=develop a strong relationship)
We want to forge closer relationships with our allies.
maintain a relationship
The US government is keen to maintain good relationships with all countries in the region.
cement a relationship (=make it firm and strong)
We want to cement relationships with other clubs in the area.
damage/undermine a relationship
We don’t want to risk undermining the good relationship between different faith communities here.
PREPOSITIONS
a relationship between sb (and sb)
The relationships between pupils and teachers are excellent.
a relationship with sb
The company has always had a good relationship with the media.
a relationship of trust/confidence/respect etc
It’s important that a relationship of trust exists between workers and managers.
the way in which things are connected and affect each other
ADJECTIVES
a close relationship
There is a close relationship between drugs and crime.
a strong/significant relationship
Studies show a significant relationship between smoking and heart disease.
a direct relationship
There is a direct relationship between the demand for a particular product and its price.
an inverse relationship formal (= when one is great, the other is small)
There seems to be an inverse relationship between the amount of advice that a parent gives and a child’s willingness to listen.
a causal relationship formal (=when one thing causes another)
There is no causal relationship between the age of the mother and these birth defects.
VERBS
have/bear a relationship (to sth)
The allegations bore no relationship to the facts.
establish/discover a relationship (=prove that it exists)
The book tries to establish a relationship between the war and social conditions in Europe.
explore/examine/investigate a relationship (=consider or discuss it)
The next chapter explores the relationship between China’s history and its current economic
success.
there is a relationship/a relationship exists
No relationship exists between the size of the prison population and the level of crime.
a relationship emerges (=people realize that it exists)
If we look at these figures, a close relationship emerges between work done and profit earned.
PREPOSITIONS
a relationship to sth
I considered students’ patterns of study and their relationship to exam performance.
a relationship between sth (and sth)
In this programme, we look at the relationship between food and health.
a friendship between people who love or like each other very much
ADJECTIVES
a serious/steady/long-term relationship (=one that lasts a long time)
It was her first serious relationship.
a sexual relationship
He admitted having a sexual relationship with a patient.
a stormy/turbulent relationship (=one that involves many arguments)
The singer had a stormy relationship with her boyfriend and they split up several times.
a loving relationship (=in which people love each other)
They had a warm loving relationship.
an on-off relationship (=existing sometimes and not at other times)
Details of their on-off relationship appeared in all the newspapers.
VERBS
end a relationship also break off a relationship
She was very upset when he ended their relationship.
start/begin a relationship
I’m in no hurry to start another relationship.
a relationship ends/fails also a relationship breaks up/down
She moved to a different city and the relationship ended soon after.
PREPOSITIONS
a relationship with sb
She’s the actress who had a relationship with the president.
be in a relationship (=have a relationship with each other)
Even their closest friends didn’t know they were in a relationship.