Definition of alleviate
alleviated;
alleviating
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Examples of alleviate in a Sentence
- For decades, as you probably know, researchers have found that when you tell patients that you're giving them medicine, many report that their symptoms are alleviated, even if they're only taking sugar pills. —Daniel Zwerdling, Gourmet, August 2004
- Granholm has spent the morning giving a major public address on state finance issues, courting local officials in meetings, and, in between, talking with me. We'd discussed the state of the Michigan economy and her ideas for developing a new high-tech corridor outside Detroit that focuses on homeland security innovation; we went over her ideas for alleviating overcrowding in the state's emergency rooms. —Jonathan Cohn, New Republic, 14 Oct. 2002
- When applied in ointment form, capsaicin helps alleviate the discomfort of arthritis and psoriasis. Taken internally as a diluted tincture, it helps keep the blood flowing smoothly and strengthens the cardiovascular system. —Nina Simonds, Gourmet, September 2002
- Ridley, a British journalist with a doctoral degree in zoology, does touch on the incredible potential of genetics for alleviating human misery. … But much of his remarkable book is focused on a higher plane of pure intellectual discovery. —Lee M. Silver, New York Times Book Review, 27 Feb. 2000
- Before discussing what must be done to alleviate the environmental and social crises afflicting the globe, Chief Oren Lyons … of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, wanted to drive to a gym in Syracuse, New York, and watch his son shadowbox. —Paul Schneider, Audubon, March/April 1994
finding ways to alleviate stress
a car pool alleviates some of the stress of driving the kids to and from school every day
Where was someone to alleviate this robbery of his life? —“The End of the World” P. 531, THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak, Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y. © 2005
The relationship between king and parliament went nowhere. Bitter speeches were made on both sides, which James’s late attempts at mollification did little to alleviate. —“Four” P. 64, GOD’S SECRETARIES, Adam Nicolson, HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 220.5 N54g ©2003
“I’m feeding a lot of excitement myself.” In fact, I felt an instant euphoria at Kimmery’s alleviating presence. If this was the prospect of Zen I was ready to begin my training. —“One Mind” P. 194, MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN [fiction], Jonathan Lethem, Vintage Books 813.54 L34m (1999) 2001
Recent Examples of alleviate from the Web
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Once a skin rash has developed, the Mayo Clinic advises you to apply cortizone cream and calamine lotion for the first few days to alleviate pain.
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But the pressure from the fibroids felt like a stack of bricks bearing down on my cervix, and to alleviate the pain, I was told to lie with my hips elevated.
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Long meditations on the ethical quandaries that their situation presents surely do little to alleviate their pain.
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The process is said to help alleviate pain and emotional distress.
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Some candidates would rather have subsidies that alleviate pain for their farmers than stick to party orthodoxy — at least between now and November.
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He was prescribed hydrocodone to alleviate the pain from a back injury caused at work.
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Into that void, various entrepreneurs have tried to quietly supply recreational users, and medical patients who use the plant to alleviate their pain, while tiptoeing around the law.
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Proponents say the therapy is effective at treating various diseases and alleviating pain.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alleviate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Where Does The Word alleviate Come From?
Alleviate derives from the past participle of Late Latin alleviare ("to lighten or relieve"), which in turn was formed by combining the prefix ad- and the adjective "levis," a Latin word meaning "light" or "having little weight." ("Levis" comes from the same ancient word that gave rise to "light" in English.) We acquired "alleviate" in the 15th century, and for the first few centuries the word could mean either "to cause (something) to have less weight" or "to make (something) more tolerable." The literal "make lighter" sense is no longer used, however, so today we have only the "relieve" sense. Incidentally, not only is "alleviate" a synonym of "relieve," it's also a cousin; "relieve" comes from "levare" ("to raise"), which in turn comes from "levis."
Origin and Etymology of alleviate
Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare, from Latin ad- + levis light — more at light
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First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearSynonym Discussion of alleviate
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.
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- took an aspirin to relieve the pain
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- the lotion alleviated the itching
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- good news would lighten our worries
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- ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat
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- the need to mitigate barbaric laws
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- allayed their fears
ALLEVIATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of alleviate for English Language Learners
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: to reduce the pain or trouble of (something) : to make (something) less painful, difficult, or severe
ALLEVIATE Defined for Kids
Definition of alleviate for Students
alleviated;
alleviating
: to make less painful, difficult, or severe
A good long rest alleviated her headache.
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of alleviate
alleviated;
alleviating
: to make (as symptoms) less severe or more bearable
- a lotion to alleviate itching
Learn More about alleviate
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See words that rhyme with alleviate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alleviate Spanish Central: Translation of alleviate Nglish: Translation of alleviate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alleviate for Arabic speakers
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