verb
relieve
rih-LEEV
verb
1
To ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry.
"The medicine helped relieve his back pain."
"Talking to a friend can relieve a lot of stress."
2
To free someone from a duty, task, or responsibility, often by taking their place.
"A fresh guard arrived to relieve him at midnight."
How to Use Relieve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make a burden lighter, whether that's pain, stress, or a duty someone else can take over.
Common pairings
relieve stress
relieve pain
relieve someone of duty
Word Forms
relieved past tense, relieves singular
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The medicine helped _____ his back pain.
Etymology
From Old French relever, from Latin relevare, "to lift up, lighten" — from re- plus levare, "to lift."