relieved
Britishadjective
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(postpositive; often foll by at, about, etc) experiencing relief, esp from worry or anxiety
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mechanical engineering having part of the surface cut away to avoid friction or wear
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.
Vocabulary lists containing relieved
Because of Winn-Dixie
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Bronx Masquerade
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Novel Study: The Outsiders, Chapters 6–12
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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.
"I thought they'd come to take me away and honestly I was nervous but mostly I was relieved," he said.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
Rival retailers were initially relieved when they saw Barnes & Noble begin to improve, in part because they admired Daunt’s personal start as an indie bookseller.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
A commander was relieved of duty in connection with that investigation.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Speaking to Emma Barnett's Ready to Talk podcast Sally says she is relieved to have found an explanation for her behaviour, but is angry her life has been "hijacked".
From BBC • May 1, 2026
"He didn't yell at me either," said Mary Lou, sounding relieved.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
