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

It’s been really relieving for it to just be out.

From Los Angeles Times

Yes, there are the long, glorious summers off, which relieve teacher-parents of the stress and expense of the summer camp scramble.

From Los Angeles Times

Sano says she was "relieved to see that it was being accepted positively, and was really watching closely over my smartphone to see people's reactions the following day as well".

From BBC

The good news is a swipe left or the word "no" punctuated with a laugh will relieve them of this delusion.

From Salon

Both seemed relieved that “The Roommate” has given them space to tune out the election noise.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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