correlate
/ˈkɒrəleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɔːrəleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkȯr-ə-lət ˈkär-, -ˌlāt/ (ame, mw)
correlate — verb
- correlatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- correlateshe / she / it
- correlatedpast simple
- correlating-ing form
1. If two things change together in a predictable pattern — for instance, education
If two things change together in a predictable pattern — for instance, education levels rising alongside average salaries across a population — they correlate.
The researchers found that sleep quality correlated with exam results among the students.
correlate with + noun phrase for a shared relationship
In this region, average income does not always correlate with the cost of living.
Andrei noticed that his energy levels correlated closely with how many hours he slept.
Dr. Nakamura found that stress levels correlated strongly with heart disease rates among the elderly patients in her clinic.
The amount of sunlight in a city correlates with how happy its residents say they feel.
- relate
broader and less technical; 'the two events relate to each other' can mean any kind of connection, not necessarily a measurable one
- correspond
suggests a matching or parallel pattern, often in ranking or position rather than cause and effect
- coincide
implies events happening at the same time rather than a statistical or causal link
- diverge
when two trends move in opposite directions instead of together
文法句型
correlate with
A and B correlate
be correlated with
用法筆記
Frequently used with the preposition 'with' ('X correlates with Y'). The passive form 'be correlated' is also very common: 'X and Y are correlated.' This sense does not take a direct object; it describes a natural relationship rather than an action of showing one.
常見錯誤
2. To show or prove that a meaningful link ties together several pieces of data or
To show or prove that a meaningful link ties together several pieces of data or events — for example, a researcher connecting air-pollution readings to hospital-visit records to reveal a shared pattern over time.
The research team tried to correlate the patients' symptoms with their medical histories.
correlate + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
Analysts correlated the rise in online sales with the closure of local shops.
Kemi correlated brain activity patterns with different emotional states in her study.
The pediatric team tried to correlate the toddlers' eating habits with their recurring stomach pains.
The report correlates rising global temperatures with higher rates of crop failure in tropical regions.
- link
less formal and less technical; 'link data to outcomes' is simpler but less precise than 'correlate'
- connect
broader — covers physical, emotional, and logical ties, not just statistical relationships
- associate
similar in meaning and register; 'associate' is slightly more common in everyday formal writing
文法句型
correlate + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
correlate + noun phrase + and + noun phrase
be correlated with
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense takes a direct object: someone correlates one thing with another. It often appears in academic or research contexts. The researcher is the subject performing the action of linking, whereas in sense 1 the things themselves simply relate passively.
常見錯誤
correlate — noun
1. A variable, quality, or phenomenon that has a regular or measurable connection w
A variable, quality, or phenomenon that has a regular or measurable connection with another, so that a change in one tends to appear alongside a change in the other — for example, education level treated as a correlate of life expectancy across different countries.
High blood pressure is a well-known correlate of poor diet and lack of exercise.
a correlate of + noun phrase
The researchers identified three key correlates of job satisfaction among nurses.
Walid studied the correlates between language ability and social integration in immigrant communities.
In South Korea during the 1998 financial crisis, inflation and unemployment rates were treated as key correlates by government economists.
A strong correlate of student success is the amount of time spent reading outside class.
- correlation
refers to the relationship itself rather than one participant in it — 'a correlation between A and B' vs. 'A is a correlate of B'
- counterpart
suggests a matching partner in a system, often one that complements rather than correlates statistically
- accompaniment
implies something that appears alongside another by chance or pattern, but less precise than 'correlate'
文法句型
a correlate of
a correlate between
correlates of
用法筆記
Commonly used in academic writing, especially in social sciences, medicine, and economics. The phrase 'a correlate of' is the most frequent pattern. Unlike 'correlation' (which is the relationship itself), a 'correlate' is one of the things involved in that relationship.