relieve

verb

ri-LEEV/ɹɪˈliːv/

Formsrelieves, relieving, relieved

13 meanings of relieve

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To make pain or discomfort in someone's body feel better.
Like taking a heavy bag off your shoulder so it stops hurting.
The cool gel relieved her sore knee almost at once.
Stretching can relieve tired muscles after a long walk.
Similarease, soothe
Oppositeaggravate, worsen
2
verbtransitive
To make a bad feeling, like pain or worry, less strong.
Like turning down the volume on a sound that hurts your ears.
Deep breaths can relieve stress before a big test.
The medicine relieved her bad headache.
Similaralleviate, ease, lessen, assuage, soothe
Oppositeaggravate, worsen, intensify
3
verbtransitive
To help someone stop feeling worried or upset.
Like a hug that makes a scared child feel safe again.
Her phone call relieved the worried parents.
Good news can relieve a nervous student before exams.
Similarreassure, comfort, calm, soothe
Oppositeworry, alarm, distress
Note
4
verbtransitive
To free someone from a hard job or duty they don't want.
Like a friend carrying half your bags so you feel lighter.
The new helper relieved her of the heavy cleaning work.
They agreed to relieve him of his extra duties.
Similarfree, release, rid, unburden
Oppositeburden, saddle
Note
5
verbtransitive
To take over someone's post or job so they can stop or rest.
Like a friend taking your place so you can go and rest.
The night nurse came to relieve the tired day staff.
A fresh guard relieved him at midnight.
Similarreplace
Note
6
verbtransitive
To give help or comfort to people who are poor or in need.
Like sharing your lunch with a friend who has nothing to eat.
The charity works to relieve families hit by the flood.
Volunteers relieved the hungry refugees with food and blankets.
Similarhelp, aid, assist, support
7
verbtransitive
To send soldiers to help a town that enemies have surrounded.
Like friends arriving to help when you are cornered by bullies.
The king sent troops to relieve the trapped city.
Reinforcements finally relieved the besieged fort.
Similarrescue, liberate, free
Oppositebesiege
Note
8
verbtransitive
To free someone from a debt or a legal duty by law.
Like a teacher canceling homework so you no longer have to do it.
The court agreed to relieve her of the unfair debt.
New rules relieved small shops of some heavy taxes.
Similarabsolve, free, release, discharge
Note
9
verbeuphemisticreflexivetransitive
A polite way of saying to use the toilet.
He stopped behind a tree to relieve himself.
She relieved herself quickly before the long bus ride.
Similarpee, poop, urinate, defecate, piss
Note
10
verbeuphemisticreflexivetransitive
A polite way of saying to satisfy one's own sexual urge, usually alone.
Feeling tense and aroused, he quietly relieved himself before bed.
She learned that it was normal to relieve herself when feeling desire.
Similarmasturbate, wank, fap
Note

Less common meanings

11
verbarchaic
To save someone from danger or a very hard situation.
Like a lifeguard pulling someone out of deep water.
The knight came to relieve the maiden from the dragon's lair.
Heaven relieved them from their long suffering.
Note
12
verbarchaic
To make something stand out so it is easy to see.
Like a shadow that makes a shape stand out from a flat wall.
Bright light can relieve the carvings on the old door.
The night whose sable breast relieves the stark / White stars is no less lovely being dark
1927, Countee Cullen, From the Dark TowerHere, relieves means makes the stars stand out so they are easy to see.
Note
13
verbobsolete
To lift something up, or to raise it again.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of relieve apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin 'relevo' meaning 'to lift up' or 'to lighten', made from 're-' (back) and 'levo' (to lift). It came into English through Old French.