relieve

[ ri-leev ]

/ rɪˈliv /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR relieve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

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.

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.

to make less tedious, unpleasant, or monotonous; break or vary the sameness of: curtains to relieve the drabness of the room.

to bring into relief or prominence; heighten the effect of.

to release (one on duty) by coming as or providing a substitute or replacement.

Machinery.

to free (a closed space, as a tank, boiler, etc.) of more than a desirable pressure or vacuum.
to reduce (the pressure or vacuum in such a space) to a desirable level.

Baseball. to replace (a pitcher).

verb (used without object), re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

Baseball. to act as a relief pitcher: He relieved in 52 games for the Pirates last season.

Nearby words

relief map, relief pitcher, relief valve, reliefer, relier, relieve, relieve oneself, relieve someone of, relieved, reliever, relieving arch

Idioms

to relieve oneself, to urinate or defecate.

Origin of relieve

1300–50; Middle English releven < Middle French relever to raise < Latin relevāre to reduce the load of, lighten, equivalent to re- re- + levāre to raise, derivative of levis light in weight

SYNONYMS FOR relieve

1 mitigate, assuage, allay, lighten, lessen, abate, diminish.

3 support, sustain.

4 aid, help, assist, succor.

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ANTONYMS FOR relieve

1 intensify.

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Related forms

re·liev·a·ble, adjectivere·liev·ed·ly

[ri-lee-vid-lee] /rɪˈli vɪd li/, adverbnon·re·liev·ing, adjectivequa·si-re·lieved, adjective

un·re·liev·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·lieved, adjectiveun·re·liev·ed·ly, adverbun·re·liev·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. 2. 3. See comfort.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for relieving

Instead of lessons about the dangerous, addictive, and deadly qualities of prescription opioids, he got lessons on relieving pain.
America’s Oxy-Express Route to Heroin Addiction|Abby Haglage|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By relieving McElhone of the brash movie ending she is able to maintain her grasp on a flawed but still complex character.
Return of the Bunny Boiler: Fatal Attraction’s World Stage Premiere|Nico Hines|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sure revealing that you secretly like to paint might be relieving, but what next?
Ashton Kutcher Is Investing in the Anonymous Confessional App Secret|Abby Haglage|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Exit might give them a nice export boost, relieving some of the crippling unemployment currently afflicting Italian workers.
Euro Crisis: Reheated|Megan McArdle|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They made several trips to the bathroom,” he says, indicating “they were possibly doing more than just relieving themselves.
U.S. Marines Accused of Injuring Brazilian Stripper|Mac Margolis|May 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Some were earnest men, wholly devoted to the object of relieving the distress which they saw on every side.
Three Years in the Sixth Corps|George T. Stevens
This difference enabled the engineer officers to carry the work through the period of relieving the fatigue details.
The Black Phalanx|Joseph T. Wilson
This is the course I have generally pursued, and scarce ever failed of relieving in a few hours.
An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art|B. L. Hill
He beguiled the tedious hours of confinement by study, relieving his mind by varying its objects.
The Life of Hugo Grotius|Charles Butler
“Where,” cried the Cornet, also relieving himself of his burden.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 377, March 1847|Various

British Dictionary definitions for relieving

relieve

/ (rɪˈliːv) /

verb (tr)

to bring alleviation of (pain, distress, etc) to (someone)

to bring aid or assistance to (someone in need, a disaster area, etc)

to take over the duties or watch of (someone)

to bring aid or a relieving force to (a besieged town, city, etc)

to free (someone) from an obligation

to make (something) less unpleasant, arduous, or monotonous

to bring into relief or prominence, as by contrast

(foll by of) informal to take fromthe thief relieved him of his watch

relieve oneself to urinate or defecate

Derived Formsrelievable, adjective

Word Origin for relieve

C14: from Old French relever, from Latin relevāre to lift up, relieve, from re- + levāre to lighten

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

Word Origin and History for relieving

relieve

late 14c., "alleviate (pain, etc.), mitigate; afford comfort; allow respite; diminish the pressure of," also "give alms to, provide for;" also figuratively, "take heart, cheer up;" from Old French relever "to raise, relieve" (11c.) and directly from Latin relevare "to raise, alleviate, lift up, free from a burden," from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + levare "to lift up, lighten," from levis "not heavy" (see lever).

The notion is "to raise (someone) out of trouble." From c.1400 as "advance to the rescue in battle;" also "return from battle; recall (troops)." Meaning "release from duty" is from early 15c. Related: relieved; relieving.

Medicine definitions for relieving

relieve

[ rĭ-lēv′ ]

v.

To cause a lessening or alleviation of something, such as pain, tension, or a symptom.

To free an individual from pain, anxiety, or distress.

Related formsre•liev′a•ble adj.

relieve

verb (used with object), re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

verb (used without object), re·lieved, re·liev·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of relieve

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for relieving

British Dictionary definitions for relieving

relieve

verb (tr)

Word Origin for relieve

Word Origin and History for relieving

relieve

Medicine definitions for relieving

relieve

v.