reliefnoun
uk/rɪˈliːf/us/rɪˈliːf/relief noun (HAPPINESS)
B2 [ S or U ] a feeling of happiness that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended:
[ + to infinitive ] It was such a relief to hear that Marta was found safe and well.
After the exam, I felt an incredible sense of relief.
"James can't come tonight." "Well, that's a relief!"
to seek/find/provide relief from the heat/cold/pain/noise
More examples
- We both heaved a sigh of relief when she left.
- To the bride's relief, the wedding ceremony went off without a hitch.
- She gave an audible sigh of relief.
- The holiday was a welcome relief.
- There was manifest relief among the workers yesterday at the decision not to close the factory.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Relieved and thankful
- a load/weight off your mind idiom
- appreciative
- beholden
- bless
- cheers!
- count
- I owe you (one) idiom
- indebted
- million
- mind
- obliged
- release
- relieved
- ta
- thank
- thank you
- thanks
- thanks a million idiom
- vote of thanks
- you shouldn't have idiom
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relief noun (HELP)
C2 [ C or U ] food, money, or services that provide help for people in need:
an international relief operation
relief agencies/supplies
Musicians have raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa.
More examples
- In spite of the scale of the famine, the relief workers struggled on with dauntless optimism and commitment.
- Campaigning to change government policy is ancillary to the charity's direct relief work.
- The continuing civil war is frustrating the efforts of relief agencies to feed thousands of famine victims.
- Charities are non-profit-making organizations and get tax relief.
- Our organization is just one of many charities that are providing famine relief in the region.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Helping and co-operating
- a good/bad turn idiom
- abet
- aid
- assist
- assistance
- avail
- bridge
- facilitate
- give sb a leg up idiom
- give/lend sb a helping hand idiom
- go a long way toward(s) doing sth idiom
- hang
- platform
- reach
- run errands idiom
- scene
- see sb through sth
- share a platform idiom
- start sb off
- succour
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relief noun (RAISED AREA)
[ U ] a method of raising shapes above a flat surface so that they appear to stand out slightly from it:
Coins have pictures on them in relief.
[ C ] specialized art a sculpture made from a flat surface in which the forms are raised above the surface:
stone reliefs
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Sculpture
- bas-relief
- bronze
- bust
- carve
- carving
- cherub
- cupid
- hew
- installation
- maquette
- plaster cast
- plinth
- sculpt
- sculptured
- sphinx
- statuary
- statue
- statuette
- waxwork
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Idiom(s)
be on relief
stand (out) in relief