Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

relieved

British  
/ rɪˈliːvd /

adjective

  1. (postpositive; often foll by at, about, etc) experiencing relief, esp from worry or anxiety

  2. mechanical engineering having part of the surface cut away to avoid friction or wear

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

Were you nervous about that math test because you didn't study hard enough? Well, you'll be relieved to learn that it's been canceled. You can relax! What a relief. Relieved is the adjective equivalent to the noun "relief." To get relief is to be relieved. At the supermarket, they might have a whole section devoted to pain-relievers. Got a headache? Take a couple and you'll likely be relieved of your pain. Interestingly, you can also use relieved to describe someone who's been fired or had their responsibilities taken away. After one too many unfunny shows, the clown was relieved of his duties: he had to hand in his little red nose.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing relieved

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.

Alary was shocked and relieved to learn others had fallen into the same trap.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

I was relieved I wasn’t stranded on a mountain, hauling 5 pounds of dead robot weight.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

"Popping the blister relieved the pressure but it was swollen and bruised, so it's just sore," McIlroy said after playing the back nine on Wednesday.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

So when inflation actually did go down, they were relieved and happy.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

“So that’s where they came from,” Papa said, looking relieved.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "relieved" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com