Relieve — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ri-ˈlēv/ re·lieve

Meaning & Definition of Relieve

Relieve (verb)

  1. to free from a burden, give aid or help to
  2. to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction
  3. to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition

Relieve (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make more bearable or less severe

    "an ice pack will relieve the swelling"

    similar: allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, 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

  2. to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers

    "the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator"

    similar: clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, rid, unburden
    related: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue, disengage, disentangle, extricate
    opposite: burden, encumber, saddle
    near: bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

  3. to take the place of

    "at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty"

    similar: cut out, displace, displant, replace, substitute, supersede, supplant
    related: preempt, usurp

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Relieve

The most common words with a similar meaning to Relieve:

allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, soothe, clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, rid, unburden, cut out, displace, displant, replace, substitute, supersede, supplant

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Relieve

Words with the opposite meaning of Relieve:

aggravate, exacerbate, burden, encumber, saddle

Related Words for Relieve

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

Near Antonyms of Relieve

harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, intensify, sharpen, bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Word Forms of Relieve

Inflections: relieved, relieving

Derived words: relievable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Relieve

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

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Relieve

Words & Phrases Containing Relieve

relieve of, relieve oneself

Frequently Asked Questions about Relieve

What does "Relieve" mean?

"Relieve" means to free from a burden, give aid or help to. As a verb, it is defined as: to free from a burden, give aid or help to. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Relieve"?

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

What are different ways to say "Relieve"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Relieve". Common alternatives include allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, soothe and clear.

What is the opposite of "Relieve"?

Antonyms of "Relieve" include aggravate, exacerbate, burden, encumber and saddle. Near antonyms include harm, hurt, impair and injure.

How do you use "Relieve" in a sentence?

Examples of "Relieve" in a sentence: "an ice pack will relieve the swelling"; "the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator"; "at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty".

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

"Relieve" is a verb.

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

As a B2-level word, "Relieve" 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 "Relieve"?

"Relieve" is pronounced /ri-ˈlēv/ and divided into syllables as re·lieve.