relieve

[ ri-leev ]

verb (used with object)

, re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

1. to ease or alleviate (pain, distress, anxiety, need, etc.).

   Synonyms: diminish, abate, lessen, lighten, allay, assuage, mitigate

   Antonyms: intensify

2. to free from anxiety, fear, pain, etc.
3. to free from need, poverty, etc.

   Synonyms: sustain, support

4. to bring effective aid to (a besieged town, military position, etc.).

   Synonyms: succor, assist, help, aid

5. to ease (a person) of any burden, wrong, or oppression, as by legal means.
6. to reduce (a pressure, load, weight, etc., on a device or object under stress):

   to relieve the steam pressure; to relieve the stress on the supporting walls.

7. to make less tedious, unpleasant, or monotonous; break or vary the sameness of:

   curtains to relieve the drabness of the room.

8. to bring into relief or prominence; heighten the effect of.
9. to release (one on duty) by coming as or providing a substitute or replacement.
10. Machinery.
    1. to free (a closed space, as a tank, boiler, etc.) of more than a desirable pressure or vacuum.
    2. to reduce (the pressure or vacuum in such a space) to a desirable level.
11. Baseball. to replace (a pitcher).

verb (used without object)

, re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

1. Baseball. to act as a relief pitcher:

   He relieved in 52 games for the Pirates last season.

relieve

/ rɪˈliːv /

verb

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. informal.
   foll by of to take from

   the thief relieved him of his watch

9. relieve oneself
   to urinate or defecate

Derived Forms

• reˈlievable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·lieva·ble adjective
• re·liev·ed·ly [ri-, lee, -vid-lee], adverb
• nonre·lieving adjective
• quasi-re·lieved adjective
• unre·lieva·ble adjective
• unre·lieved adjective
• unre·lieved·ly adverb
• unre·lieving adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of relieve¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English releven from Middle French relever “to raise,” from Latin relevāre “to reduce the load of, lighten,” equivalent to re- “again, again and again”+ levāre “to raise,” derivative of levis “light in weight”; re-

Word History and Origins

Origin of relieve¹

C14: from Old French relever , from Latin relevāre to lift up, relieve, from re- + levāre to lighten

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to relieve oneself, to urinate or defecate.

Synonym Study

See comfort.

Example Sentences

When Mars Wright saw that Donald Trump had been elected again as president, the 29-year-old Los Angeles artist and streetwear designer felt relieved he had already undergone surgeries for his gender transition.

From Los Angeles Times

Hojgaard was forced to be aggressive in reply, but the Dane narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th - relieving the pressure on McIlroy who holed his own birdie attempt to seal the win.

From BBC

“And it’s a chronic longstanding tussle that we have with clients because they’re trying to relieve themselves of as much responsibility as possible.”

From New York Times

At least six deputies have been relieved of duty in connection with the case, according to court filings and Sheriff’s Department sources — three more than previously reported.

From Los Angeles Times

She and her husband Sam are now celebrating Aurora's first birthday together, and the couple are incredibly relieved that Laura has been declared cancer free.

From BBC

Related Words

• allay
• alleviate
• assuage
• calm
• comfort
• cure
• diminish
• ease
• free
• mitigate
• relax
• soothe
• subdue