relief

¹re·lief

noun \ri-ˈlēf\

Definition of RELIEF

1

: a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate

2

a : removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing b : welfare 2a c : military assistance to an endangered post or force d : means of breaking or avoiding monotony or boredom : diversion

3

: release from a post or from the performance of duty

4

: one that takes the place of another on duty

5

: legal remedy or redress

6

[French, from Middle French, from Italian rilievo relievo] a : a mode of sculpture in which forms and figures are distinguished from a surrounding plane surface b : sculpture or a sculptural form executed in this mode c : projecting detail, ornament, or figures

7

a : sharpness of outline due to contrast <a roof in bold relief against the sky> b : the state of being distinguished by contrast <throws the two opinions into bold relief>

8

: the elevations or inequalities of a land surface

9

: the pitching done by a relief pitcher <two innings of hitless relief>

Examples of RELIEF

1. I felt such a sense of relief after I finished my thesis.
2. He expressed relief that the crisis was finally over.
3. Much to everyone's relief, the airplane took off without any problems.
4. What a relief it is to be back home.
5. Exercise is an excellent source of stress relief.
6. Both candidates promised tax relief for middle-class families.
7. Countries from around the world have been sending relief to the flood victims.
8. We donated to the relief effort for the hurricane victims.
9. My father lost his job and we had to go on relief.

Illustration of RELIEF

Origin of RELIEF

Middle English relef, relief, from Anglo-French from relever to relieve

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RELIEF

Synonyms: cheer, consolation, comfort, solace

Related Words: encouragement, inspiration, uplift; assurance, reassurance; alleviation, assuagement, mitigation; contentment, gladness, happiness; commiseration, empathy, sympathy; aid, assistance, help, succor

Near Antonyms: cold comfort; anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture

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Rhymes with RELIEF

bay leaf, belief, crew chief, debrief, drop leaf, endleaf, enfeoff, fig leaf, fire chief, flyleaf, gold leaf, in brief, in chief, kerchief, loose-leaf, massif, motif, naïf, O'Keeffe, red leaf, sharif, shinleaf, sneak thief, Tallchief