Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense relieves, present participle relieving, past tense, past participle relieved
1. verb
If something relieves an unpleasant feeling or situation, it makes it less unpleasant or causes it to disappear completely.
Meditation can relieve stress. [VERB noun]
This should relieve the pressure on you to keep her entertained. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If someone or something relieves you of an unpleasant feeling or difficult task, they take it from you.
A bookkeeper will relieve you of the burden of chasing unpaid invoices. [VERB noun + of]
3. verb
If someone relieves you of something, they take it away from you.
[formal]
A porter relieved her of the three large cases. [VERB noun + of]
4. verb
If you relieve someone, you take their place and continue to do the job or duty that they have been doing.
At seven o'clock the night nurse came in to relieve her. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take over from, substitute for, stand in for, take the place of More Synonyms of relieve
5. verb [usually passive]
If someone is relievedof their duties or is relievedof their post, they are told that they are no longer required to continue in their job.
[formal]
The officer involved was relieved of his duties because he had violated strict guidelines. [beVERB-ed + of]
The party leader has been relieved of his post. [beV-ed of n]
6. verb
If an army relieves a town or another place which has been surrounded by enemy forces, it frees it.
The offensive began several days ago as an attempt to relieve the town. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If people or animals relievethemselves, they urinate or defecate.
[old-fashioned]
It is not difficult to train your dog to relieve itself on command. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
More Synonyms of relieve
relieve in British English
(rɪˈliːv)
verb(transitive)
1.
to bring alleviation of (pain, distress, etc) to (someone)
2.
to bring aid or assistance to (someone in need, a disaster area, etc)
3.
to take over the duties or watch of (someone)
4.
to bring aid or a relieving force to (a besieged town, city, etc)
5.
to free (someone) from an obligation
6.
to make (something) less unpleasant, arduous, or monotonous
7.
to bring into relief or prominence, as by contrast
8. (foll by of) informal
to take from
the thief relieved him of his watch
9. relieve oneself
Derived forms
relievable (reˈlievable)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French relever, from Latin relevāre to lift up, relieve, from re- + levāre to lighten
relieve in American English
(rɪˈliv)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈlieved or reˈlieving
1.
a.
to ease, lighten, or reduce (pain, anxiety, etc.)
b.
to free (a person) from pain, discomfort, anxiety, etc.
c.
to restore (a part of the body, the mind, etc.) to well-being
2.
a.
to lighten the pressure, stress, weight, etc. on (something)
b.
to lighten (pressure, stress, etc.)
3.
a.
to give aid or assistance to
to relieve the poor
b.
to bring or send help to
to relieve a besieged city
4.
a.
to set free from a burden, obligation, grievance, etc.
b.
to remove (a burden, etc.)
5.
a.
to set free from duty or work by replacing with oneself or another
to relieve a nurse
b. US, 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
verb intransitive US
8. Baseball
to serve as a relief pitcher
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcomfort
Idioms:
relieve oneself
SYNONYMY NOTE: relieve implies the reduction of misery, discomfort, or tediousness sufficiently to makeit 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]; lighten1 implies a cheering or gladdening as by reducing the weight of oppression or depression[nothing can lighten the burden of our grief]; assuage suggests a softening or pacifying influence in lessening pain, calming 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]
Derived forms
relievable (reˈlievable)
adjective
reliever (reˈliever)
noun
Word origin
ME releven < OFr relever < L relevare, to lift up again < re-, again + levare, to raise: see lever
Examples of 'relieve' in a sentence
relieve
No doubt they'll be riding to relieve him with all the men they can scrape together.
Kerr, Katharine A TIME OF WAR (2002)
Vast and powerfully armoured divisions, miraculously supplied, would appear and drive up from the south to relieve the stricken army.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
It is simple enough; it may relieve much suffering from the dust cough.
Ursula K. Le Guin THE DISPOSSESSED (2002)
In other languages
relieve
British English: relieve /rɪˈliːv/ VERB
If something relieves an unpleasant feeling or situation, it makes it less unpleasant or causes it to disappear completely.
Medication can relieve much of the pain.
American English: relieve
Arabic: يُخَفِّفُ
Brazilian Portuguese: aliviar
Chinese: 减轻
Croatian: olakšati
Czech: zmírnit
Danish: lindre
Dutch: verlichten
European Spanish: aliviar
Finnish: helpottaa
French: soulager
German: erleichtern
Greek: ανακουφίζω
Italian: alleviare
Japanese: 安心させる
Korean: 경감시키다
Norwegian: lindre
Polish: ulżyć
European Portuguese: aliviar
Romanian: a alina
Russian: облегчать
Latin American Spanish: aliviar
Swedish: avhjälpa
Thai: ผ่อนคลาย
Turkish: dindirmek acı
Ukrainian: полегшувати
Vietnamese: làm dịu đi
Chinese translation of 'relieve'
relieve
(rɪˈliːv)
vt
(= alleviate)[pain, worry]减(減)轻(輕) (jiǎnqīng)
(= take over from)[colleague]换(換)班 (huànbān)
to relieve sb of sth[load]替某人拿某物 (tì mǒurén ná mǒuwù) [duties, post]免除 (miǎnchú)
to relieve o.s. (euphemism) 解手 (jiěshǒu)
1 (verb)
Definition
to lessen (pain, distress, boredom, etc.)
Drugs can relieve much of the pain.
Synonyms
ease
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
soothe
Lemon tisanes with honey can soothe sore throats.
alleviate
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
allay
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
relax
Rules governing student conduct have been relaxed in recent years.
comfort
He put his arm round her, trying to comfort her.
calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
cure
dull
They gave him morphine to dull the pain.
diminish
soften
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
console
I can console myself with the thought that I'm not alone.
appease
Cash is on hand to appease mounting frustration.
solace
They solaced themselves with their fan mail.
mitigate
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
abate
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
assuage
She was trying to assuage her guilt.
mollify
salve
I give myself treats and justify them to salve my conscience.
palliate
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
Opposites
intensify
,
worsen
,
heighten
,
exacerbate
,
aggravate
2 (verb)
Definition
to lessen (pain, distress, boredom, etc.)
Television did help to relieve the boredom and isolation.
Synonyms
interrupt
reduce
break up
alleviate
dispel
brighten
punctuate
The silence was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic.
lighten
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
counteract
mitigate
let up on (informal)
make bearable
3 (verb)
Definition
to free (someone) from an obligation
He felt relieved of a burden.
Synonyms
free
It will free us of a whole lot of debt.
release
He was released from custody the next day.
deliver
Mercifully, I was delivered from that pain.
discharge
You are being discharged on medical grounds.
exempt
Companies with fewer than 55 employees would be exempted from these requirements.
unburden
The human touch is one of the surest ways of unburdening stresses.
disembarrass
disencumber
4 (verb)
Definition
to take over the duties of (someone)
At seven o'clock the night nurse came in to relieve her.
Synonyms
take over from
substitute for
stand in for
take the place of
He eventually took Charlie's place in the band.
give (someone) a break or rest
5 (verb)
Definition
to bring assistance to (someone in need)
a programme to relieve poor countries
Synonyms
help
If you're not willing to help me, I'll find somebody who will.
support
He supported the hardworking people.
aid
a software system to aid managers in decision-making
sustain
I am sustained by letters of support.
assist
They decided to assist me with my chores.
succour
The money would be used to succour evicted families.
bring aid to
phrasal verb
See relieve yourself
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
Synonyms
reduce,
slow,
relax,
ease,
relieve,
moderate,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
decrease,
lessen,
alleviate,
quell,
mitigate,
attenuate,
slake
in the sense of aid
Definition
to help financially or in other ways
a software system to aid managers in decision-making
Synonyms
help,
second,
support,
serve,
sustain,
assist,
relieve,
avail,
subsidize,
abet,
succour,
be of service to,
lend a hand to,
give a leg up to (informal)
in the sense of allay
Definition
to reduce (fear, doubt, or anger)
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
Synonyms
reduce,
quiet,
relax,
ease,
calm,
smooth,
relieve,
check,
moderate,
dull,
diminish,
compose,
soften,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
quell,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify
Synonyms of 'relieve'
relieve
Explore 'relieve' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alleviate
Definition
to lessen (pain or suffering)
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
Synonyms
ease,
reduce,
relieve,
moderate,
smooth,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
check,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
lighten,
quell,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
slacken,
assuage,
quench,
mollify,
slake,
palliate
in the sense of appease
Definition
to satisfy or relieve (a feeling)
Cash is on hand to appease mounting frustration.
Synonyms
ease,
satisfy,
calm,
relieve,
diminish,
compose,
quiet,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
lull,
quell,
allay,
mitigate,
assuage,
quench,
tranquillize
in the sense of assist
Definition
to give help or support
They decided to assist me with my chores.
Synonyms
help,
back,
support,
further,
benefit,
aid,
encourage,
work with,
work for,
relieve,
collaborate with,
cooperate with,
abet,
expedite,
succour,
lend a hand to,
lend a helping hand to,
give a leg up to (informal)
in the sense of assuage
Definition
to relieve (grief, pain, or thirst)
She was trying to assuage her guilt.
Synonyms
relieve,
ease,
calm,
moderate,
temper,
soothe,
lessen,
alleviate,
lighten,
allay,
mitigate,
quench,
palliate
in the sense of calm
Definition
to make or become calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Synonyms
soothe,
settle,
quiet,
relax,
appease,
still,
allay,
assuage,
quieten
in the sense of comfort
Definition
to bring physical ease to
He put his arm round her, trying to comfort her.
Synonyms
console,
encourage,
ease,
cheer,
strengthen,
relieve,
reassure,
soothe,
hearten,
solace,
assuage,
gladden,
commiserate with,
inspirit
in the sense of console
Definition
to comfort (someone) in sadness or distress
I can console myself with the thought that I'm not alone.
Synonyms
comfort,
cheer,
relieve,
soothe,
support,
encourage,
calm,
solace,
assuage,
succour,
express sympathy for
in the sense of deliver
Definition
to release or rescue (from captivity or danger)
Mercifully, I was delivered from that pain.
Synonyms
release,
free,
save,
rescue,
loose,
discharge,
liberate,
acquit,
redeem,
ransom,
emancipate
in the sense of discharge
Definition
to release or allow to go
You are being discharged on medical grounds.
Synonyms
release,
free,
clear,
liberate,
pardon,
let go,
acquit,
allow to go,
set free,
exonerate,
absolve
in the sense of dull
They gave him morphine to dull the pain.
Synonyms
relieve,
blunt,
lessen,
moderate,
soften,
alleviate,
allay,
mitigate,
assuage,
take the edge off,
palliate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exempt
Definition
to release (someone) from an obligation, tax, etc.
Companies with fewer than 55 employees would be exempted from these requirements.
Synonyms
grant immunity,
free,
except,
excuse,
release,
spare,
relieve,
discharge,
liberate,
let off,
exonerate,
absolve
in the sense of lighten
Definition
to make or become more cheerful or lively
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
Synonyms
ease,
relieve,
alleviate,
allay,
reduce,
facilitate,
lessen,
mitigate,
assuage
in the sense of mitigate
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease,
moderate,
soften,
check,
quiet,
calm,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
temper,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
appease,
lighten,
remit,
allay,
placate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
take the edge off,
extenuate,
tranquillize,
palliate,
reduce the force of
in the sense of palliate
Definition
to lessen the severity of (pain or disease) without curing it
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
Synonyms
relieve,
relax,
ease,
moderate,
diminish,
temper,
soften,
soothe,
alleviate,
mitigate,
assuage,
mollify
in the sense of punctuate
Definition
to interrupt at frequent intervals
The silence was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic.
Synonyms
interrupt,
break,
pepper,
sprinkle,
intersperse,
interject
in the sense of relax
Definition
to make (rules or discipline) less strict
Rules governing student conduct have been relaxed in recent years.
Synonyms
moderate,
ease,
relieve,
weaken,
diminish,
mitigate,
slacken
in the sense of release
Definition
to free (a person or animal) from captivity or imprisonment
He was released from custody the next day.
Synonyms
set free,
free,
discharge,
liberate,
drop,
deliver,
loose,
let go,
undo,
let out,
extricate,
untie,
disengage,
emancipate,
unchain,
unfasten,
turn loose,
unshackle,
unloose,
unfetter,
unbridle,
manumit
in the sense of salve
I give myself treats and justify them to salve my conscience.
Synonyms
ease,
soothe,
appease,
still,
allay,
pacify,
mollify,
tranquillize,
palliate
in the sense of soften
Definition
to make or become more sympathetic and less critical
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
Synonyms
lessen,
moderate,
diminish,
temper,
lower,
relax,
ease,
calm,
modify,
cushion,
soothe,
subdue,
alleviate,
lighten,
quell,
muffle,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage
in the sense of solace
Definition
to give comfort or cheer to (a person) in time of sorrow or distress
They solaced themselves with their fan mail.
Synonyms
comfort,
console,
soothe
Additional synonyms
in the sense of soothe
Definition
(of an ointment or cream) to relieve (pain)
Lemon tisanes with honey can soothe sore throats.
Synonyms
relieve,
ease,
alleviate,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
assuage,
deaden,
take the edge off,
allay
in the sense of succour
Definition
to give aid to (someone in time of difficulty)
The money would be used to succour evicted families.
Synonyms
help,
support,
aid,
encourage,
nurse,
comfort,
foster,
assist,
relieve,
minister to,
befriend,
render assistance to,
give aid and encouragement to
in the sense of support
Definition
to give practical or emotional help to (someone)
He supported the hardworking people.
Synonyms
help,
back,
champion,
second,
aid,
forward,
encourage,
defend,
promote,
take (someone's) part,
strengthen,
assist,
advocate,
uphold,
side with,
go along with,
stand up for,
espouse,
stand behind,
hold (someone's) hand,
stick up for (informal),
succour,
buoy up,
boost (someone's) morale,
take up the cudgels for,
be a source of strength to
in the sense of sustain
Definition
to keep up the strength or energy of (someone)
I am sustained by letters of support.
Synonyms
help,
aid,
comfort,
foster,
assist,
relieve,
nurture
in the sense of take the place of
He eventually took Charlie's place in the band.
Synonyms
replace,
relieve,
substitute for,
cover for,
take over from,
act for,
stand in for,
fill in for,
be a substitute for
in the sense of unburden
The human touch is one of the surest ways of unburdening stresses.