Allay — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /a-ˈlā/ al·lay

Meaning & Definition of Allay

Allay (verb)

  1. to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity, alleviate
  2. to make quiet, calm
  3. to diminish in strength, subside

Allay (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make more bearable or less severe

    "a gentle breeze would allay the heat"

    similar: alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe
    related: abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper, cure, heal, remedy, amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine
    opposite: aggravate, exacerbate
    near: harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, intensify, sharpen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Allay

The most common words with a similar meaning to Allay:

alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Allay

Words with the opposite meaning of Allay:

aggravate, exacerbate

Related Words for Allay

abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper, cure, heal, remedy, amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Near Antonyms of Allay

harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, intensify, sharpen

Word Forms of Allay

Inflections: allayed, allaying, allays

Origin & Etymology of Allay

Middle English alayen, from Old English ālecgan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + lecgan to lay abide, lay

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Allay

Frequently Asked Questions about Allay

What does "Allay" mean?

"Allay" means to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity, alleviate. As a verb, it is defined as: to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity, alleviate.

What is another word for "Allay"?

Other words for "Allay" include alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate and relieve. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Allay" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Allay"?

There are 33 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Allay". Common alternatives include alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve and soothe.

What is the opposite of "Allay"?

Antonyms of "Allay" include aggravate and exacerbate. Near antonyms include harm, hurt, impair and injure.

How do you use "Allay" in a sentence?

Examples of "Allay" in a sentence: "a gentle breeze would allay the heat".

Is "Allay" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Allay" is a verb.

Is "Allay" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Allay" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Allay"?

"Allay" is pronounced /a-ˈlā/ and divided into syllables as al·lay.