English Dictionary
Definition of “relieve”
relieve (rɪˈliːv
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to bring alleviation of (pain, distress, etc) to (someone)
- to bring aid or assistance to (someone in need, a disaster area, etc)
- to take over the duties or watch of (someone)
- to bring aid or a relieving force to (a besieged town, city, etc)
- to free (someone) from an obligation
- to make (something) less unpleasant, arduous, or monotonous
- to bring into relief or prominence, as by contrast
- (foll by of) informal to take from ⇒
the thief relieved him of his watch
- See relieve oneself
Alternative Forms
reˈlievable adjective Word Origin
C14: from Old French relever , from Latin relevāre to lift up, relieve, from re- + levāre to lighten
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
ease,
soothe,
alleviate,
allay,
relax,
comfort,
calm,
cure,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
console,
appease,
solace,
mitigate,
abate,
assuage,
mollify,
salve,
palliate,
=
interrupt,
reduce,
break up,
alleviate,
dispel,
brighten,
punctuate,
lighten,
counteract,
mitigate,
let up on make bearable=
take over from substitute for
stand in for,
take the place of,
give (someone) a break or rest
Translations
- British English:
relieve
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.rɪˈliːv VERB Medication can relieve much of the pain.
- Spanish:
aliviar
v
- French:
soulager
vt
- German:
erleichtern
v
- Chinese: 减轻 v
- Arabic: يُخَفِّفُ v
- Portuguese: aliviar v
- Russian: облегчать v
- Croatian: olakšati v
- Czech: zmírnit v zmírňovat
- Danish: lindre v
- Dutch: verlichten v
- Finnish: helpottaa v
- Greek: ανακουφίζω v
- Italian: alleviare v
- Japanese: 安心させる v
- Korean: 경감시키다 v
- Norwegian: lindre v
- Polish: ulżyć v
- Brazilian Portuguese: aliviar v
- European Spanish:
aliviar
v
- Swedish: avhjälpa v
- Thai: ผ่อนคลาย v
- Turkish: dindirmek v
- Vietnamese: làm dịu đi v
Usage examples
She has to relieve herself every ten minutes, just like an adolescent awaiting her first date.
Stewart, Michael, Compulsion (1994)Williams underwent surgery several weeks ago to relieve inflammation in his right knee.
CBC (2004)He had sneaked away from a pheasant shoot at Sandringham to relieve himself behind a bush.
Sun, News of the World (2000)Fear was expressed for his life, and 16 leeches were prudently applied behind the ear to relieve the pressure.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
