reprieve

verb re·prieve \ ri-ˈprēv \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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 \

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

Noble didn't get his reprieve, but earlier this year, the parole board voted to remove the 10-year rule.

— the marshall project, NOLA.com, "7 years behind bars for 2 joints -- and now he's free," 12 Apr. 2018
This year's winter weather provided a reprieve compared with the snow that dominated 2017.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Portland filled 4,500 potholes so far this year, but potholes are 'symptom' of failing streets," 12 Apr. 2018
By tweaking the law, Mickey got another 20-year reprieve.

— glenn fleishman, The Atlantic, "A Landslide of Classic Art Is About to Enter the Public Domain," 8 Apr. 2018
In fact, the Indiana State Board of Education has listened to numerous hours of debate from private schools hoping for reprieves from the law, including two more on Wednesday.

— shaina cavazos, Indianapolis Star, "Voucher waivers for struggling private schools are ‘out of control,’ Indiana official says," 8 Apr. 2018
For Nicole Beverly, the jury's verdict means a reprieve from fear.

— kristen jordan shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Stalker found guilty after threatening to kill ex-wife in Michigan domestic abuse case," 3 Apr. 2018
Despite the reprieve, Keating's businesses continued to spiral downward, taking the five senators with him.

— azcentral, "John McCain gets into 'a hell of a mess' with the Keating Five scandal," 2 Apr. 2018
Another company benefiting from the reprieve is ArcelorMittal SA, MT 4.78% the world’s largest steel producer.

— bob tita, WSJ, "Why One Slice of the U.S. Steel Industry Welcomes Trump’s Tariff Exemptions," 27 Mar. 2018
All three released statements last October sharply condemning the power producer, signaling that the Hollywood tastemaker would not find reprieve overseas.

— yohana desta, HWD, "There Is Still One Man Publicly Defending Harvey Weinstein," 27 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of reprieve

see ¹reprieve

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1552

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

REPRIEVE Defined for English Language Learners

reprieve

verb

: 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

: 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 \

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

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 \

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