Relief — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ri-ˈlēf/ re·lief

Meaning & Definition of Relief

Relief (noun)

  1. a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate
  2. removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing
  3. welfare

Relief (adjective)

  1. providing relief
  2. characterized by surface inequalities
  3. of or used in letterpress

Relief (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling of ease from grief or trouble

    "my coworkers' kind words gave me some relief from the grief that I was feeling upon the death of my partner"

    similar: cheer, comfort, consolation, solace
    related: encouragement, inspiration, uplift, assurance, reassurance, alleviation, assuagement, mitigation, contentment, gladness, happiness, commiseration, empathy, sympathy, aid, assistance, help, succor
    near: anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture

  2. a person or thing that takes the place of another

    "I can't go home from my nursing shift until my relief shows up to take over"

    similar: backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub, substitute
    related: alternate, understudy, apology, makeshift, stopgap, agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate, assistant, reliever, second, successor, superseder

  3. reduction of or freedom from pain

    "the aspirin gave him some relief from the headache"

    similar: alleviation, comfort, ease, release
    related: appeasement, assuagement, decrease, diminishment, mitigation, moderation, mollification, calming, salving, soothing
    near: discomfort, unrest, agony, anguish, misery, suffering, torment, torture, ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

Related Entry: Relief map (noun)

Relief map is a different word from Relief. The synonyms below are for relief map, not for relief.

  1. as in plan, map

    similar: ground plan, plan, plat, plot, chart, map

Related Entry: Relief maps (noun)

Relief maps is a different word from Relief. The synonyms below are for relief maps, not for relief.

  1. as in plans, maps

    similar: ground plans, plans, plats, plots, charts, maps

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Relief

The most common words with a similar meaning to Relief:

cheer, comfort, consolation, solace, backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub, substitute, alleviation, ease, release

Related Words for Relief

encouragement, inspiration, uplift, assurance, reassurance, assuagement, mitigation, contentment, gladness, happiness, commiseration, empathy, sympathy, aid, assistance, help, succor, alternate, understudy, apology, makeshift, stopgap, agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor

Near Antonyms of Relief

anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture, discomfort, unrest, agony, misery, suffering, ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

Origin & Etymology of Relief

Middle English relef, relief, from Anglo-French, from relever to relieve

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Relief

Words & Phrases Containing Relief

relief map, relief pitcher, relief printing, relief road, bas-relief, comic relief, high relief, low relief

Frequently Asked Questions about Relief

What does "Relief" mean?

"Relief" means a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Relief"?

Other words for "Relief" include cheer, comfort, consolation, solace, backup, cover, designated hitter and fill-in. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Relief" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Relief"?

There are 66 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Relief". Common alternatives include cheer, comfort, consolation, solace, backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens and pinch hitter.

How do you use "Relief" in a sentence?

Examples of "Relief" in a sentence: "my coworkers' kind words gave me some relief from the grief that I was feeling upon the death of my partner"; "I can't go home from my nursing shift until my relief shows up to take over"; "the aspirin gave him some relief from the headache".

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

"Relief" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

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

As a B2-level word, "Relief" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Relief"?

"Relief" is pronounced /ri-ˈlēf/ and divided into syllables as re·lief.

What is the origin of the word "Relief"?

"Relief" comes from Middle English relef, relief, from Anglo-French, from relever to relieve. First known use: 14th century.