relieve

To relieve is to lessen physical or mental pain or to lessen someone's stress or burden.

(verb)

An example of relieve is what pain killers do to pain.
An example of relieve is when you go to work and take over for the person during their family emergency.

See relieve in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb relieved, relieving

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)
to make less tedious, monotonous, etc. by being or providing a pleasing change
to set off by contrast; make distinct or prominent

Origin: 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:

See relieve in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb re·lieved, re·liev·ing, re·lieves

To cause a lessening or alleviation of: relieved all his symptoms; relieved the tension.
To free from pain, anxiety, or distress.
To furnish assistance or aid to.
To rescue from siege.
To release (a person) from an obligation, restriction, or burden, as by law or legislation.
a. To free from a specified duty by providing or acting as a substitute.
b. Baseball To take over for (a relief pitcher).
To make less tedious, monotonous, or unpleasant: Only one small candle relieved the gloom.
To make prominent or effective by contrast; set off.
Informal To rob or deprive: Pickpockets relieved him of his money.