VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

inversely related

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ɪnˌvɜːsli rɪˈleɪtɪd/
US/ɪnˌvɜːrsli rɪˈleɪtɪd/

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparable

    Changing in opposite directions, so that when one amount increases the other decreases.

    Grammar: Used after the verb be or before a noun: the two values are inversely related; an inversely-related change.

    Patterns

    • be inversely related to something
    • inversely related to each other
    • an inversely-related change

    In this experiment, pressure and volume are inversely related.

    The study found that income and stress were inversely related.

    There is an inversely-related pattern between the two measurements.

  2. adjectivenot comparabletechnical

    Connected in such a way that one thing becomes smaller or weaker as the other becomes larger or stronger.

    Grammar: Often followed by to: speed is inversely related to travel time.

    Patterns

    • inversely related to something
    • directly opposed to something

    Risk is inversely related to the amount of practice you do.

    The cost is inversely related to the size of the order.

Common combinations

be inversely related to
Interest rates are inversely related to the demand for loans.
inversely related variables
The graph shows two inversely related variables.
an inversely-related relationship
They described an inversely-related relationship between the two factors.
inversely related to each other
Temperature and altitude are inversely related to each other.
directly and inversely related
Some quantities are directly related, while others are inversely related.

Synonyms and how they differ

inversely proportional
This is the stronger, mathematical version: it means one value is a fixed multiple of the other's reciprocal.
opposite
Opposite is a general word for things that go in different directions; it does not suggest a measured link.
negatively correlated
This is a statistics term for two sets of data that tend to move in opposite directions; it does not require an exact mathematical rule.

Opposites

directly relatedproportional

Word family

inverse adjective
Opposite in order, direction, or effect.
inversely adverb
In an opposite way or order.
relation noun
A connection between two things.
relate verb
To show or see a connection between things.

Commonly confused: inversely related or inversely proportional? inversely related or unrelated?

inversely related vs inversely proportional

Inversely proportional is exact and mathematical; inversely related is looser and just means the two things move in opposite directions.

inversely related vs unrelated

Unrelated means there is no connection at all, while inversely related means there is a connection, but in the opposite direction.

Practice

As one value rises, the other falls, so the two values are ______.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “inversely related”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words