reprieve

verb re·prieve \ ri-ˈprēv \

Definition of reprieve

reprieved; reprieving

transitive verb

1 :to delay the punishment of (someone, such as a condemned prisoner)

2 :to give relief or deliverance to for a time

See reprieve defined for English-language learners

See reprieve defined for kids

Examples of reprieve in a Sentence

And many murderers have been reprieved because they were condemned for the wrong murder, quite probably just as many as have been executed for the only murder they did not in fact commit. —Christopher Hitchens, Nation, 14 May 2001
In a postscript to the very same letter, he added, 'If he must die, it were charity to reprieve him till Saturday.' If there had been any doubt of his fate, this weakness and meanness would have settled it. The very next day, which was the twelfth of May, he was brought out to be beheaded on Tower Hill. —Charles Dickens, A Child's History of England, 1854
He was sentenced to death but then reprieved.
The library has been reprieved and will remain open for at least another year.

Recent Examples of reprieve from the Web

Reprieved from collapse, the Ottoman Empire’s government pursued radical reforms.

— The Economist, "If the Ottoman Empire had not collapsedHad the Ottoman Empire been saved rather than sunk," 13 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of reprieve

probably blend of obsolete repreve to reprove (from Middle English) and obsolete repry to remand, postpone, from Anglo-French repri-, past stem of reprendre to take back

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1596

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

reprieve

noun re·prieve \ ri-ˈprēv \

Definition of reprieve

1 a :the act of reprieving :the state of being reprieved

b :a formal temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence especially of death

2 :an order or warrant for a temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence

3 :a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)

See reprieve defined for English-language learners

Examples of reprieve in a Sentence

In Baghdad, you learn to savor small pleasures. When the weather turned unexpectedly cool one recent evening … , people emptied out of their houses, braving the ever present threat of violence in order to enjoy a brief reprieve from the heat. —Aparisim Ghosh, Time, 11 July 2005
Six days later Captain Dufranne announced that they would sail early on the morrow. Jane would have begged for a further reprieve, had it not been that she too had begun to believe that her forest lover would return no more. —Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, 1914
It may be, on the other hand, that the destruction of the Martians is only a reprieve. To them, and not to us, perhaps, is the future ordained. —H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, 1898
That he did not regard it as a desperate case, that he did not say a few hours must end it, was at first felt, beyond the hope of most; and the ecstasy of such a reprieve, the rejoicing, deep and silent, after a few fervent ejaculations of gratitude to Heaven had been offered, may be conceived. —Jane Austen, Persuasion, 1817
Death, that inexorable judge, had passed sentence on him, and refused to grant him a reprieve, though two doctors who arrived, and were fee'd at one and the same instant, were his counsel. —Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749
They wanted to close the library, but we managed to get a reprieve for it.
This warm spell has given us a reprieve from the winter cold.

Recent Examples of reprieve from the Web

The comedic reprieve is welcome at first, but the scene also serves to illuminate the larger truths about how families function.

— justine harman, Glamour, "Max Greenfield Knows He Plays a Good 'Well-Intentioned' Jerk," 16 Aug. 2017
For urban cemeteries running short of space for burials, cremation offers a reprieve.

— james barron, New York Times, "In a Move Away From Tradition, Cremations Increase," 10 Aug. 2017
Passing through several postcard-perfect classic Cape Cod villages, rural route 6A is a lot more pleasant with fall’s traffic reprieve.

— alyssa giacobbe, Town & Country, "The 7 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in New England," 31 July 2017
The artificial womb presents a peril — not a reprieve — to the pro-choice Left.

— margot cleveland, National Review, "Artificial Wombs Reveal an Ugly Truth about the Abortion-Rights Movement," 31 July 2017
Unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as children were given (temporary) reprieve from the threat of deportation, as were the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens — until this policy blocked by the courts.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Six Months In, Is Trump’s America Living Up to Liberals’ Worst Fears?," 22 July 2017
Lawmakers granted the Pentagon and its contractors a temporary reprieve from those rules to give engineers time to address the unique aspects of destroying explosive military waste.

— krista stevens, Longreads, "Open Burning: A Banned Practice That’s Poisoning America," 21 July 2017
The entire class of 2018 got a reprieve after fears that about one-third of the class wouldn’t graduate.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Is your school losing state money?," 20 July 2017
Tuesday offers reprieve and helps push along inner healing and reconciliation.

— jodie layne, Allure, "What This Week's Horoscope Means for You," 17 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of reprieve

see ¹reprieve

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1552

See Words from the same year

REPRIEVE Defined for English Language Learners

reprieve

verb

Definition of reprieve for English Language Learners

: to delay the punishment of (someone, such as a prisoner who is sentenced to death)
: to prevent (something) from being closed, destroyed, etc., for a period of time

reprieve

noun

Definition of reprieve for English Language Learners

: an official order that delays the punishment of a prisoner who is sentenced to death
: a delay that keeps something bad from happening
: a period of relief from pain, trouble, etc.

REPRIEVE Defined for Kids

reprieve

verb re·prieve \ ri-ˈprēv \

Definition of reprieve for Students

reprieved; reprieving

1 :to delay something (as the punishment of a prisoner sentenced to die)

2 :to give relief to

We were reprieved when a storm closed school on test day.

reprieve

noun

Definition of reprieve for Students

1 :the act of postponing something

2 :a temporary relief

Rain brought a reprieve from the heat.

Law Dictionary

reprieve

transitive verb re·prieve \ ri-ˈprēv \

legal Definition of reprieve

reprieved; reprieving

:to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner)

Origin and Etymology of reprieve

alteration of earlier repry to send back (to prison), return to custody, perhaps from Anglo-French repris, past participle of reprendre to take back, from Old French