relief

noun re·lief \ ri-ˈlēf \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: relief in a Sentence

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

[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

See relief defined for English-language learners

See relief defined for kids

Examples of relief in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of relief from the Web

There was shock, relief, worry, sometimes simultaneously, as the world watched Trump and Kim — who were insulting each other's mental and physical prowess and threatening nuclear war just a few months ago — shaking hands and smiling.

— foster klug, chicagotribune.com, "Trump and Kim’s 13-second handshake and what it meant to the world," 12 June 2018
The first will be greeted with a sign of relief, if not roars, within the Aztecs basketball offices — Laramie, Wyo.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Aztecs now know their Mountain West basketball schedule," 11 June 2018
In an order filed Friday, a Lake County magistrate and judge denied Kevin Isom’s petition for post-conviction relief, outlining what Isom claimed were errors made by his attorneys in his case, court records show.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Gary man on death row denied latest appeal request," 11 June 2018
The ensuing recognition as a ‘‘normal country’’ could then allow sanctions relief, and later international aid and investment.

— foster klug, BostonGlobe.com, "North Korea’s Kim arrives in Singapore," 10 June 2018
As Sandburg coach Jim Morsovillo stood on the mound waiting for Seth Masters to come on in relief, every starting infielder gave Tenuta a hug.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Eventful ending: Sandburg loses in third-place game despite strong effort from Notre Dame recruit Evan Tenuta," 10 June 2018
So for now, Brown and her supporters hope a federal court gives her some measure of relief, as her fight for justice continues behind prison walls.

— NBC News, "Cyntoia Brown, sentenced at 16 to life in prison, to plead for leniency in federal court," 10 June 2018
Negotiators struggled to come up with a compromise statement that all seven powers could agree to and, in a burst of relief, released it Saturday night.

— New York Times, "Trump’s Blasts Upend G-7, Alienating Oldest Allies," 9 June 2018
The sun threw the domes into relief, sometimes casting their shadows onto the fog beyond.

— laura mallonee, WIRED, "Inside the Arctic Circle, Golden Hour Has Nothing on Golden Day," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relief.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of relief

Origin and Etymology of relief

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

relief Synonyms

Synonyms

alleviation, comfort, ease, release;

Near Antonyms

discomfort, unrest;

agony, anguish, misery, suffering, torment, torture;

ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge;

calming, salving, soothing;

relief

adjective

Definition of relief

1 : providing relief

2 : characterized by surface inequalities

3 : of or used in letterpress

First Known Use of relief

1776

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

RELIEF Defined for English Language Learners

relief

noun

Definition of relief for English Language Learners

: a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen
: the removal or reducing of something that is painful or unpleasant
: things (such as food, money, or medicine) that are given to help people who are victims of a war, earthquake, flood, etc.

RELIEF Defined for Kids

relief

noun re·lief \ ri-ˈlēf \

Definition of relief for Students

1 : the feeling of happiness that occurs when something unpleasant or distressing stops or does not happen

What a relief to be home safe.

2 : removal or lessening of something painful or troubling

I need relief from this headache.

3 : something that interrupts in a welcome way

The rain was a relief from dry weather.

4 : release from a post or from performance of a duty

relief of a guard

5 : welfare 2

6 : a sculpture in which figures or designs are raised from a background

7 : elevations of a land surface

The map shows relief.

Medical Dictionary

relief

noun re·lief \ ri-ˈlēf \

medical Definition of relief

: removal or lightening of something oppressive or distressing

relief of pain

symptomatic relief

Law Dictionary

relief

noun re·lief

legal Definition of relief

: redress, assistance, or protection given by law especially from a court

should state what relief the plaintiff seeks

: as

a : release from obligation or duty

relief from judgment

b : an order from a court granting a particular remedy (as return of property)

injunctive relief

declaratory relief

— see also remedy

Learn More about relief

See words that rhyme with relief Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for relief Spanish Central: Translation of relief Nglish: Translation of relief for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of relief for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relief

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up relief? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

relief

Definition of relief

Examples of relief in a Sentence

Recent Examples of relief from the Web

Illustration of relief

Origin and Etymology of relief

relief Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

relief

Definition of relief

First Known Use of relief

Phrases Related to RELIEF

Related Phrases

RELIEF Defined for English Language Learners

relief

Definition of relief for English Language Learners

RELIEF Defined for Kids

relief

Definition of relief for Students

Medical Dictionary

relief

medical Definition of relief

Law Dictionary

relief

legal Definition of relief

Learn More about relief

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

'Than': What Follows It and Why

Name More Food!

9 Words for Transnational Currencies

Ghost Word