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1. Dictionary

   Re·lieve

   /rəˈlēv/

   

   verb

   • 1. cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious: "the drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain" Similar alleviatemitigateassuageallaysoothesoftenpalliateappeaseeasedullreducelessendiminishOpposite aggravate
   • ▪ cause (someone) to stop feeling distressed or anxious about something: "he was relieved by her change of tone"
   • 2. release (someone) from duty by taking their place: "another signalman relieved him at 5:30" Similar replacetake over fromtake the place ofstand in foract as stand-in forfill in forsubstitute foract as a substitute fordeputize forbe a proxy forcover forprovide cover foract as locum forhold the fort fordo something in someone's place/stead
   • ▪ bring military support for (a besieged place): "he dispatched an expedition to relieve the city"
   • ▪ (of a relief pitcher) take the place of (another pitcher) during a game.
   • 3. take (a burden) from someone: "he relieved her of her baggage" Similar free of/fromset free fromrelease fromliberate fromexempt fromexcuse fromabsolve fromlet offextricate fromdischarge fromunburden ofdisburden ofdisencumber ofdeliver fromrescue fromsave fromrare:disembarrass ofOpposite put an extra burden on
   • ▪ free someone from (a tiresome responsibility): "she relieved me of the household chores" Similar replacetake over fromtake the place ofstand in foract as stand-in forfill in forsubstitute foract as a substitute fordeputize forbe a proxy forcover forprovide cover foract as locum forhold the fort fordo something in someone's place/stead
   • ▪ used euphemistically to indicate that someone has been deprived of something: "he was relieved of his world title"
   • 4. make less tedious or monotonous by the introduction of variety or of something striking or pleasing: "the bird's body is black, relieved only by white under the tail" Similar counteractreducealleviatemitigatebrightenlightensweetenbring respite tomake something bearableinterruptpunctuatevarybreak upstopbring an end tocuredispelpreventOpposite exacerbateemphasize
   • 5. urinate or defecate (used euphemistically): "train your dog to relieve itself where you want it to"
   • 6. make (something) stand out: archaic "the twilight relieving in purple masses the foliage of the island"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French relever, from Latin relevare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + levare ‘raise’ (from levis ‘light’).

   Derivatives

   • 1. relievable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • R

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   • I

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryrelieve | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   Definition of relieve – Learner’s Dictionary. relieve. verb [ T ] uk / rɪˈliːv / us. relieve verb [T] (FROM PAIN) to make pain or a bad feeling less severe: Breathing exercises can help to relieve stress. Want to learn more? Improve your vocabulary with English Vocabulary in Use from Cambridge.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishRELIEVE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   to allow someone to stop working by taking their place: The 7 a.m. team arrived to relieve the night workers. Phrasal verbs. relieve sb of sth. (Definition of relieve from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of relieve. in Chinese (Traditional) 減輕, 緩解，減輕，解除（疼痛或擔憂）, 使寬心，使寬慰… See more. in Chinese (Simplified)

4. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › relieverelieve | meaning of relieve in Longman Dictionary of ...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › relieve

   • Cached

   relieve meaning, definition, what is relieve: to reduce someone’s pain or unpleasant f...: Learn more.

5. www.britannica.com › dictionary › relieveRelieve Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

   www.britannica.com › dictionary › relieve

   • Cached

   RELIEVE meaning: 1 : to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling); 2 : to make (a problem) less serious

6. www.wordreference.com › definition › relieverelieve - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

   www.wordreference.com › definition › relieve

   • Cached

   v.t. to ease or alleviate (pain, distress, anxiety, need, etc.). to free from anxiety, fear, pain, etc. to free from need, poverty, etc. to bring effective aid to (a besieged town, military position, etc.). to ease (a person) of any burden, wrong, or oppression, as by legal means.

7. www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › relieveRelieve - Definition, Meaning, Synonyms, Etymology

   www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › relieve

   • Cached

   Dictionary definition of relieve. To alleviate, ease, or lessen the intensity, pressure, or discomfort of something. "A good night's sleep can relieve fatigue and restore energy." Detailed meaning of relieve.

8. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › relievingRelieving Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › relieving

   • Cached

   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.