relieve

Forms

present (v1): relieve
past (v2): relieved
past participle (v3): relieved
present participle: relieving
3rd person singular: relieves

Definitions

1.To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
- I was greatly relieved by the jury's verdict.
2.To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.
3.To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).
4.To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).

Frequency

Overall

Rare· #4385

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Rare
General reading & writing: Rare
Academic: Rare
Literature: Rare

Related words

Antonyms

Etymology

From Late Middle English releven, from Old French relever, specifically from the conjugated forms such as (jeo) relieve (“I lift up”), and its source, Latin relevo (“to lift up, lighten, relieve, alleviate”), combined form of re- (“back”) + levo (“to lift”).

Doublet of relevate.