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relieve

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

Definition of relieve

transitive verb

1a : 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
2a : to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate helps relieve stress
b : rob, deprive relieved us of our belongings
3a : 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
5a : 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
Other Words from relieve Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about relieve

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Other Words from relieve

relievable \ ri-​ˈlē-​və-​bəl How to pronounce relievable (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for relieve

Synonyms

allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, soothe

Antonyms

aggravate, exacerbate

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In some ways, when Andy came out as transgender, Kate felt her parents were relieved. — Washington Post, "To some, this queer couple looks straight. For him, that’s okay. But for her, it feels ‘like a lie.’," 23 Aug. 2019 Cook, the chief financial officer of Airport Equipment Rentals, is a supporter of the effort to recall the governor from office and was relieved of duties Monday. — James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, "Dunleavy dismisses Alaska Railroad board chairman who supported recall effort," 21 Aug. 2019 Multiple reports say Perna relieved Becker Thursday of command of the Army Installation Management Command headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. — Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, "Alabama’s top general fires 3-star underling for 'loss of confidence’," 19 Aug. 2019 The donors were generally cheerful, embracing the opportunity to feel magnanimous while being relieved, by strangers, of a burdensome chore. — J. Robert Lennon, The New Yorker, "The Loop," 19 Aug. 2019 Eileen Echeverria said her most recent communications with the department's Internal Affairs Bureau in June led to her brother being relieved of his weapons. — Evan Simko-bednarski, CNN, "Sister of NYPD officer dead by suicide says the department took her brother's guns away, then gave them back," 18 Aug. 2019 Freking started the third inning on the mound and was eventually relieved as Minnesota lost, 11-0. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "Maddy Freking becomes sixth girl to pitch at Little League World Series, gets team out of jam," 16 Aug. 2019 Labadie financed the undertaking on his credit cards and was mightily relieved when more than 10,000 people came out for the event, which ended up in the black. — Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, "10 top acts highlight the 30th San Jose Jazz summer fest," 30 July 2019 Long before the Civil War, visitors to the springs bathed in and drank the waters and claimed they were relieved of their aches and pains. — Natalia E. Contreras, Indianapolis Star, "Summer day trips: Here's your guide to must see historic landmarks in Indiana," 25 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relieve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of relieve

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

History and Etymology for relieve

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

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More Definitions for relieve

relieve

verb
How to pronounce relieve (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of relieve

: to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling)
: to make (a problem) less serious
: to take the place of (someone who has been working, fighting, etc.)

See the full definition for relieve in the English Language Learners Dictionary

relieve

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

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