allay

verb

al·​lay a-ˈlā 

ə-

allayed; allaying; allays

transitive verb

1

: to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity : alleviate

expect a breeze to allay the heat

2

: to make quiet : calm

trying to allay their fears

intransitive verb

obsolete : to diminish in strength : subside

Synonyms of allay

• alleviate
• relieve
• help
• soothe
• mitigate
• ease

Choose the Right Synonym for allay

relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate, allay mean to make something less grievous.

relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

Examples of allay in a Sentence

The new advertising campaign is an attempt to allay the public's concerns about the safety of the company's products.

a gentle breeze would allay the heat

Recent Examples on the Web

The purpose was to provide transparency about the process and to allay concerns about the integrity of our voting system. — Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

One way to allay fears that the United States is retrenching from the world’s most important region is to chart an ambitious course for its most critical alliance. — David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026

Trump and key members of his team, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have suggested this is now the path forward to allay any debt concerns. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill that would require data centers to cover the cost of grid and energy upgrades, an effort to shield households from rising energy prices and allay rising fears among voters about the industry. — Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alayen, from Old English ālecgan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + lecgan to lay — more at abide, lay

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for allay

• airway
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

allay

verb

al·​lay a-ˈlā 

ə-

allayed; allaying

1

: to make less severe : relieve

allay pain

2

: to make quiet : calm

allay fears