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1. Dictionary

   relieve

   /rɪˈliːv/

   verb

   • 1. cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious: "the drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain" Similar alleviatemitigateassuageallaysoothesoftenpalliateappeaseeasedullreducelessendiminishOpposite aggravate
   • ▪ cause (someone) to stop feeling distressed or anxious: "he was relieved by her change of tone"
   • 2. release (someone) from duty by taking their place: "another signalman relieved him at 5.30" Similar replacetake over fromtake the place ofstand in foract as stand-in forfill in forsubstitute foract as a substitute fordeputize forbe a proxy forcover forprovide cover foract as locum forhold the fort fordo something in someone's place/stead
   • ▪ bring military support for (a besieged place): "he dispatched an expedition to relieve the city"
   • 3. take (a burden) from someone: "he relieved her of her baggage" Similar free of/fromset free fromrelease fromliberate fromexempt fromexcuse fromabsolve fromlet offextricate fromdischarge fromunburden ofdisburden ofdisencumber ofdeliver fromrescue fromsave fromrare:disembarrass ofOpposite put an extra burden on
   • ▪ free someone from (a tiresome responsibility): "she relieved me of the household chores" Similar replacetake over fromtake the place ofstand in foract as stand-in forfill in forsubstitute foract as a substitute fordeputize forbe a proxy forcover forprovide cover foract as locum forhold the fort fordo something in someone's place/stead
   • ▪ used ironically to indicate that someone has been deprived of something: "he was relieved of his world title"
   • 4. make less tedious or monotonous by the introduction of variety: "the bird's body is black, relieved only by white under the tail" Similar counteractreducealleviatemitigatebrightenlightensweetenbring respite tomake something bearableinterruptpunctuatevarybreak upstopbring an end tocuredispelpreventOpposite exacerbateemphasize
   • 5. used as a formal or euphemistic expression for urination or defecation: "train your dog to relieve itself where you want it to"
   • 6. make (something) stand out: archaic "the twilight relieving in purple masses the foliage of the island"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French relever, from Latin relevare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + levare ‘raise’ (from levis ‘light’).

   Derivatives

   • 1. relievable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • E

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishRELIEVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   RELIEVE definition: 1. to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strong: 2. to improve an unpleasant…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › relieveRelieve Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › relieve

   • Cached

   The meaning of RELIEVE is to free from a burden : give aid or help to. How to use relieve in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Relieve.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › relieveRELIEVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › relieve

   • Cached

   Relieve definition: to ease or alleviate (pain, distress, anxiety, need, etc.).. See examples of RELIEVE used in a sentence.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishRELIEVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If you relieve someone, you take their place and continue to do the job or duty that they have been doing. At seven o'clock the night nurse came in to relieve her. [ VERB noun ]

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryRELIEVE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   RELIEVE meaning: 1. to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strong: 2. to improve an unpleasant…. Learn more.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › relieveRelieve - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › relieve

   To relieve is to ease a burden or take over for someone. An aspirin can relieve a headache, and a substitute can relieve the teacher who fell asleep on her desk after lunch.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › relieveRelieve - definition of relieve by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › relieve

   • Cached

   1. a. To cause a lessening or alleviation of: relieved all his symptoms; relieved the tension. b. To make less tedious, monotonous, or unpleasant: Only one small candle relieved the gloom. 2. To free from pain, anxiety, or distress: I was relieved by the news that they had arrived home safely. 3. a.