relieve Definition
re·lieve (ri lēv′)
transitive verb -·lieved′, -·liev′·ing
- to ease, lighten, or reduce (pain, anxiety, etc.)
- to free (a person) from pain, discomfort, anxiety, etc.
- to restore (a part of the body, the mind, etc.) to well-being
- to lighten the pressure, stress, weight, etc. on (something)
- to lighten (pressure, stress, etc.)
- to give aid or assistance to to relieve the poor
- to bring or send help to to relieve a besieged city
- to set free from a burden, obligation, grievance, etc.
- to remove (a burden, etc.)
- to set free from duty or work by replacing with oneself or another to relieve a nurse
- ☆ 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
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
relieve Related Forms
relieve Idioms
relieve oneself
to urinate or defecate
relieve Synonyms
relieve
v.
To replace
release, remove, take over for, cover for, spell*, discharge*, force to resign; see also dismiss 1, 2, substitute 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
relieve Usage Examples
Object
- symptom: Back to top What could I try to help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth?
- pain: Don't forget your chemist can also advise on what to take to relieve the pain.
- congestion: The idea is to relieve congestion around the school gates.
- suffering: The charity funds a range of causes to relieve suffering.
- boredom: Against such women Hedda seems motivated purely by a desire to have power over others - simply to relieve boredom.
- tension: To find out more, I'm off to get my pension, Talking in the queue will help relieve the tension.
Subject
painkiller: They can be relieved by mild painkillers, or a positive change in lifestyle.
Modifying Another Word
- mightily: Graham managed to edge it by eight-hundredths of a second at the line and was mightily relieved: " That was very hard work.
- temporarily: When there has been no period of avoidance, each intake of the food is more likely to temporarily relieve rather than worsen symptoms.
- visibly: When our talk ends, the group is visibly relieved and readies for rehearsal.
Used with why or when
when: The woman would feel she was under attack and be relieved when her husband's mother finally left.
Infinitive complement
- hear: I am relieved to hear that your men are on their way.
- find: I was very relieved to find your website today.
- know: You will be relieved to know that I have limited this to the first three letters rather than the complete alphabet.
- see: I was relieved to see that nothing had changed.
Present participle complement
- itch: When applied to the skin they soothe and relieve itching.
- suffer: Comments along the lines of " being called to relieve suffering " etc turn up regularly, and should be avoided.
Preposition: of
- burden: By having readily available support networks in place, the classroom teacher would be relieved of some unnecessary administrative burdens.
- duty: Then you may by eligible to receive oil conditionally relieved of duty under the Tied Oil Scheme.
Preposition: by
painkiller: They can be relieved by mild painkillers, or a positive change in lifestyle.
Browse dictionary entries near relieve
- ‹ relief valve
- ‹ relief map
- ‹ relief
- ‹ reliction
- ‹ relict
- ‹ relic
- ‹ reliant
- ‹ reliance
- ‹ reliably
- ‹ reliable
- relieved ›
- relievo ›
- relig ›
- relight ›
- religio- ›
- religion ›
- religionism ›
- religiosity ›
- religious ›
- Religious Society of Friends ›

