51³Ō¹Ļ

Advertisement

View synonyms for

relieve

[ri-leev]

verb (used with object)

relieved, relieving 
  1. to ease or alleviate (pain, distress, anxiety, need, etc.).

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,
    Antonyms:
  2. to free from anxiety, fear, pain, etc.

  3. to free from need, poverty, etc.

    Synonyms: ,
  4. to bring effective aid to (a besieged town, military position, etc.).

    Synonyms: , , ,
  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.Ģż

    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.Ģżto replace (a pitcher).



verb (used without object)

relieved, relieving 
  1. Baseball.Ģżto act as a relief pitcher.

    He relieved in 52 games for the Pirates last season.

relieve

/ °łÉŖĖˆ±ō¾±Ė±¹ /

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. informalĢż(foll by of) to take from

    the thief relieved him of his watch

  9. to urinate or defecate

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other 51³Ō¹Ļ Forms

  • relievable adjective
  • relievedly adverb
  • nonrelieving adjective
  • quasi-relieved adjective
  • unrelievable adjective
  • unrelieved adjective
  • unrelievedly adverb
  • unrelieving adjective
  • °ł±šĖˆ±ō¾±±š±¹²¹²ś±ō±š adjective
Discover More

51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of relieve1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English releven from Middle French relever ā€œto raise,ā€ from Latin °ł±š±ō±š±¹Äå°ł±š ā€œto reduce the load of, lighten,ā€ equivalent to re- ā€œagain, again and againā€+ ±ō±š±¹Äå°ł±š ā€œto raise,ā€ derivative of levis ā€œlight in weightā€; re-
Discover More

51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of relieve1

C14: from Old French relever , from Latin °ł±š±ō±š±¹Äå°ł±š to lift up, relieve, from re- + ±ō±š±¹Äå°ł±š to lighten
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. to relieve oneself, to urinate or defecate.

Discover More

Synonym Study

See comfort.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But he made a three at the last, allowing a relieved smile to pass his lips.

From

It’s harder to find a discreet place to relieve herself; she must deal with monthly periods; and, at first, she is the weakest and slowest of the Hotshots.

From

Biden’s efforts to relieve the burden on millions of student borrowers were stymied by federal court rulings in lawsuits brought by conservative activists.

From

Had Spurs lost to United, it is widely acknowledged Postecoglou would have been relieved of his duties before now.

From

Musk's Boring Company, created to build tunnels in order to relieve traffic in urban areas, has accomplished almost nothing.

From

Advertisement

Related 51³Ō¹Ļs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American HeritageĀ® Idioms Dictionary copyright Ā© 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


relierrelieved