relieve Hear it!

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relieve definition

re·lieve (ri lēv′)

transitive verb relieved -·lieved′, relieving -·liev′·ing

    1. to ease, lighten, or reduce (pain, anxiety, etc.)
    2. to free (a person) from pain, discomfort, anxiety, etc.
    3. to restore (a part of the body, the mind, etc.) to well-being
    1. to lighten the pressure, stress, weight, etc. on (something)
    2. to lighten (pressure, stress, etc.)
    1. to give aid or assistance to to relieve the poor
    2. to bring or send help to to relieve a besieged city
    1. to set free from a burden, obligation, grievance, etc.
    2. to remove (a burden, etc.)
    1. to set free from duty or work by replacing with oneself or another to relieve a nurse
    2. ☆ Baseball to serve as a relief pitcher for (another pitcher)
  6. to make less tedious, monotonous, etc. by being or providing a pleasing change
  7. to set off by contrast; make distinct or prominent

Etymology: ME releven < OFr relever < L relevare, to lift up again < re-, again + levare, to raise: see lever

intransitive verb

Baseball to serve as a relief pitcher

Related Forms:

relieve Idioms

relieve oneself

to urinate or defecate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical relieve definition - medical

relieve Synonyms

relieve

v.

  1. To replace

    release, remove, take over for, cover for, spell*, discharge*, force to resign; see also dismiss 1, 2, substitute 2.

  2. To lessen

    assuage, alleviate, soothe, comfort, allay, lighten, mitigate, ease, divert, free, soften, diminish, reduce, console, cure, aid, assist; see also decrease 2, help 1.

relieve implies the reduction of misery, discomfort, or tediousness sufficiently to make it bearable they played a game to relieve the monotony of the trip; alleviate implies temporary relief, suggesting that the source of the misery remains unaffected drugs to alleviate the pain; lighten implies a cheering reduction of the weight of oppression or depression nothing can lighten the burden of our grief; assuage suggests a softening or pacifying influence in lessening pain or distress, calming anger or passion, etc. her kind words assuaged his resentment; mitigate implies a moderating or making milder of that which is likely to cause pain to mitigate a punishment; allay suggests an effective, although temporary or incomplete, calming or quieting we've allayed their suspicions


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

relieve Usage Examples

Object

  • symptom: Back to top What could I try to help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth?

Modifying Another Word

  • temporarily: When there has been no period of avoidance, each intake of the food is more likely to temporarily relieve rather than worsen symptoms.

Present participle complement

  • itch: When applied to the skin they soothe and relieve itching.

Infinitive complement

  • hear: I am relieved to hear that your men are on their way.

Preposition: of

  • burden: By having readily available support networks in place, the classroom teacher would be relieved of some unnecessary administrative burdens.

Preposition: by

  • painkiller: They can be relieved by mild painkillers, or a positive change in lifestyle.
relieve usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"relieve." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/relieve>

APA Style

relieve. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/relieve

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