relieve

verb

re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv How to pronounce relieve (audio)
relieved; relieving

transitive verb

1
a
: to free from a burden : give aid or help to
b
: to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction
c
: to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition
2
a
: to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate
helps relieve stress
b
: rob, deprive
relieved us of our belongings
3
a
: to release from a post, station, or duty
b
: to take the place of
will relieve the starting pitcher
4
: to remove or lessen the monotony of
a park relieves the urban landscape
5
a
: to set off by contrast
b
: to raise in relief
6
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

intransitive verb

1
: to bring or give relief
2
: to stand out in relief
3
: to serve as a relief pitcher
relievable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for relieve

relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate, allay mean to make something less grievous.

relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

Examples of relieve in a Sentence

I took a pill to relieve my headache. I wish I could relieve your suffering. What's the best way to relieve stress? She tried to relieve the tension by making a joke. an effort to relieve traffic congestion We need to find ways to relieve overcrowding in our schools. I've come to relieve the guard on duty. The soldiers were relieved by 30,000 fresh troops.
Recent Examples on the Web Giardino claims Gallagher relieved him from his position as court magistrate after announcing his run to unseat him. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 Aside from relieving pressure on your lower back, footrests can also increase blood circulation throughout your body, easing leg, knee, and general joint discomfort. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 The district is also launching choice learning programs at Colbert and Holt middle schools for the 2024-25 school year as part of the plan to relieve overcrowding at McNair, which is about 10% over capacity, Mulford said in January. Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024 Shareholders at least appear relieved the worst is behind it. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 29 Feb. 2024 Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped fuel the nation's overdose epidemic, but it is also used in legitimate medical settings to relieve severe pain. CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024 Reached out for comment, the victim’s mother, who had previously told the Herald that her daughter had been raped by Olea before her daughter went to police, said she was relieved that he had finally been arrested. Ana Claudia Chacin and, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 This may relieve her anxiety and indecision, not add to it. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Not just a cellulite cream, this can also relieve joint tension. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relieve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English releven, from Anglo-French relever to raise, relieve, from Latin relevare, from re- + levare to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of relieve was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near relieve

Cite this Entry

“Relieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relieve. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

relieve

verb
re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv How to pronounce relieve (audio)
relieved; relieving
1
: to free partly or wholly from a burden or from distress
relieve parents of worry
2
: to bring about the removal or reduction of
efforts to relieve world hunger
3
: to release from a post or duty
relieve a sentry
4
: to break the sameness of
a black dress relieved by a white collar
5
: to put or stand out in relief : set off by contrast (as in sculpture or painting)
6
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
reliever noun

Medical Definition

relieve

transitive verb
re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv How to pronounce relieve (audio)
relieved; relieving
1
: to bring about the removal or alleviation of (pain or discomfort)
2
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
reliever noun

Legal Definition

relieve

transitive verb
re·​lieve
relieved; relieving
: to set free from a duty, burden, or liability
cannot be relieved of his negligence
the trust cannot relieve the trustees of those very basic duties that the law imposesHosey v. Burgess, 890 S.W.2d 262 (1995)

More from Merriam-Webster on relieve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!