relieve

verb

re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv 

relieved; relieving

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate

helps relieve stress

b

: rob, deprive

relieved us of our belongings

3

a

: 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

5

a

: 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

relievable

ri-ˈlē-və-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of relieve

• alleviate
• help
• soothe
• mitigate
• ease

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Around the edges of the hole, Zubova and her colleagues noticed scratches, which, in addition to the hole’s unusual size and shape, made the archaeologists wonder if it had been drilled intentionally to relieve the pain of a tooth infection. —ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026

Using his position as an educator, Shay groomed students, saying the massages were meant to relieve tension and improve piano technique. —Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 13 May 2026

The life-support device − which pumps blood through an artificial lung, providing it with oxygen and returning it to the body − is hoped to relieve enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover, the reports add. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2026

The Cowboys went 10-4, but Staubach relieved Morton in the divisional playoffs and rallied Dallas to a 30-28 victory over San Francisco. —Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English releven, from Anglo-French relever to raise, relieve, from Latin relevare, from re- + levare to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing relieve

• relieve of
• relieve oneself

Rhymes for relieve

• achieve
• believe
• conceive
• deceive
• naive
• perceive
• receive
• reprieve
• retrieve
• breve
• cleave
• cleeve

Kids Definition

relieve

verb

re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv 

relieved; relieving

1

: to free partly or wholly from a burden or from distress

relieve parents of worry

2

: to bring about the removal or reduction of

efforts to relieve world hunger

3

: to release from a post or duty

relieve a sentry

4

: to break the sameness of

a black dress relieved by a white collar

5

: to put or stand out in relief : set off by contrast (as in sculpture or painting)

6

: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

reliever noun

Medical Definition

relieve

transitive verb

re·​lieve ri-ˈlēv 

relieved; relieving

1

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

2

: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)

reliever noun

Legal Definition

relieve

transitive verb

re·​lieve

relieved; relieving

: 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)