relieve

verb

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re·lieve | \ ri-ˈlēv

relieved; relieving

Definition of relieve

transitive verb

1a : to free from a burden : give aid or help to

b : to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction

c : to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition

2a : to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate helps relieve stress

b : rob, deprive relieved us of our belongings

3a : to release from a post, station, or duty

b : to take the place of will relieve the starting pitcher

4 : to remove or lessen the monotony of a park relieves the urban landscape

5a : to set off by contrast

b : to raise in relief

6 : to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

intransitive verb

1 : to bring or give relief

2 : to stand out in relief

3 : to serve as a relief pitcher

Other Words from relieve Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing relieve Learn More About relieve

Choose the Right Synonym for relieve

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 relieve in a Sentence

I took a pill to relieve my headache. I wish I could relieve your suffering. What's the best way to relieve stress? She tried to relieve the tension by making a joke. an effort to relieve traffic congestion We need to find ways to relieve overcrowding in our schools. I've come to relieve the guard on duty. The soldiers were relieved by 30,000 fresh troops. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Some patients feel better with physical therapy and with medications that relieve symptoms, but there are no drugs yet that specifically treat long COVID. — CBS News, 17 July 2022 Supply chain constraints could finally begin to abate, which would relieve a lot of the pressure on prices. — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 1 June 2022 The moisturizing ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, a proven nourishing compound that can relieve dry skin, inflammation, itchiness and other forms of irritation. — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 May 2022 The jury is still out on those benefits, but science does show that probiotics can relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease, inflammatory- bowel disease, and food allergies, says Gilbert. — Melissa Matthews, Men's Health, 4 May 2022 These typically include: These help relieve symptoms by blocking the immune response that causes inflammation.5 Topical steroids come in various forms, such as ointments, creams, lotions, sprays, and foams. — Stephanie Watson, SELF, 26 Apr. 2022 In his honesty and tenderness, Carmichael has created a special that blurs the line between comedy and confession, exposing how humor can relieve incredible tension while obscuring so much truth. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2022 The pandemic made telehealth treatment options more common, which could relieve some of the bottlenecks faced at treatment facilities. — Carly Graf, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2022 Oliver cited a 2019 investigation by BuzzFeed News and ProPublica that reported Amazon's trucking contracts relieve the corporation of responsibility even for lawsuits incurred by unsafe driving. — Christian Holub, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2022 See More

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

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Dictionary Entries Near relieve

relief well

relieve

relieved

Statistics for relieve

Last Updated

26 Jul 2022

Cite this Entry

“Relieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relieve. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for relieve

relieve

verb

re·lieve | \ ri-ˈlēv

relieved; relieving

Kids Definition of relieve

1 : to free partly or wholly from a burden, pain, or distress The phone call relieved the worried parents.

2 : to bring about the removal or lessening of No words could relieve her sorrow.

3 : to release from a post or duty relieve a sentry

4 : to break the sameness of The dark red house was relieved by white trim.

relieve

transitive verb

re·lieve | \ ri-ˈlēv

relieved; relieving

Medical Definition of relieve

1 : to bring about the removal or alleviation of (pain or discomfort)

2 : to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

relieve

transitive verb

re·lieve

relieved; relieving

Legal Definition of relieve

: to set free from a duty, burden, or liability cannot be relieved of his negligence the trust cannot relieve the trustees of those very basic duties that the law imposes — Hosey v. Burgess, 890 S.W.2d 262 (1995)