alleviate
Americanverb (used with object)
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alleviates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
alleviated,
past participle, past
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alleviating
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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alleviationnoun
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alleviatornoun
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alleviativeadjective
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unalleviatedadjective
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unalleviatingadjective
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unalleviatedlyadverb
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unalleviatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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alleviatesimple
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alleviatessimple
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have alleviatedperfect
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has alleviatedperfect
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am alleviatingprogressive
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are alleviatingprogressive
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is alleviatingprogressive
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have been alleviatingperfect progressive
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has been alleviatingperfect progressive
Past
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alleviatedsimple
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had alleviatedperfect
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was alleviatingprogressive
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were alleviatingprogressive
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had been alleviatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of alleviate
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English alleviaten, from Late Latin alleviātus “lightened,” past participle of alleviāre “to lighten, relieve,” from al- al- + levi(s) “light in weight” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix
Explanation
Do all these words make your head ache? If so, take an aspirin to alleviate, or relieve, your pain. The verb, alleviate, stems from the Latin root, levis "light" and is related to modern English words such as elevator and levitate — both words implying a lightening of one's load. Alleviate also has this sense of lightening a burden such as physical pain or emotional duress. You can take medicine to alleviate symptoms or do exercise to alleviate stress. Or if you want a bigger challenge: try alleviating traffic congestion or world hunger.
Vocabulary lists containing alleviate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Grade 9, List 2
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Farewell to Manzanar
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Whey protein is shown to have small-to-moderate benefits for muscle recovery – but evidence that it can alleviate soreness is inconsistent.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Having a long-term-care policy, more than anything, can help alleviate the financial burden that lies ahead.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
“It’s helping alleviate all of the invisible stress that exists. You don’t always see it, but it’s there.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
This has helped to alleviate the historical overhang from Cathay’s concentrated ownership structure, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
To help alleviate the costs for beginners or for kids whose parents weren’t willing or able to purchase fencing equipment, our high school had equipment for rent, like jackets, knickers, and lames.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
She said she thinks most students support the new policy because it alleviates pressure to report classmates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
“Importantly, Azure is set for another strong year as incremental capacity alleviates constraints on core and AI workloads, unlocking faster growth and reinforcing its role as a key engine alongside M365,” Thill wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 5, 2026
Historical context further alleviates the sting of last month’s deficit: Since fiscal year 1955, the Treasury hasn’t recorded an October surplus.
From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025
Ardell was already working with Opportunity International, a global nonprofit that alleviates generational poverty by microfinancing community projects both in Southern California and abroad.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2025
Usually, a ten-day antibiotic treatment alleviates the symptoms, or a fast in-office medical procedure can release the pressure.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
He dismisses concerns about its effectiveness, including suggestions that alleviated symptoms could be due to a placebo effect.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
It’s still the summer—the August heat is alleviated in South Carolina only by late-afternoon thunderstorms.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
Strong investment returns have alleviated financial pressure on state and local governments since taxpayers pay most of the bill for public worker pensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Plus, the new Federal Reserve chair cleared his final confirmation hurdle this afternoon, which likely alleviated some lingering uncertainty at the central bank, and among investors.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
There is no known cure, though recent developments in potion-making have to a great extent alleviated the worst symptoms.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
Since you ask about strategies for alleviating risk or the perception of risk: First, take stock of what you actually own and when you’ll need the money.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
She said she hopes the arrest "goes some way towards alleviating the anxiety and uncertainty" that Karol Kelly's family have experienced.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Microsoft on Wednesday reported $90 billion in revenue and $35.8 billion in net income for its most recently completed quarter, potentially alleviating investor concerns about whether its investments in AI are paying off.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Crude prices had fallen in recent weeks, with investors believing that the end of fighting was in sight, alleviating some worries about war-fueled inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
One day, a packet-ship arriving from Nova Scotia with meat, thus alleviating the city’s starvation, I purchased a salted ham-hock with Sally, and, by her side, stripped it for cooking.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
