relieve
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for relieve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use relieve
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French relever, from Latin relevare, "to lift up, lighten" — from re- plus levare, "to lift."
Full origin of relieve →Frequently asked questions
What does “relieve” mean?
The word “relieve” means to ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry. In plain terms, to make a burden lighter, whether that's pain, stress, or a duty someone else can take over.
How do you pronounce “relieve”?
“Relieve” is pronounced rih-LEEV (/ɹɪˈliːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “relieve” in a sentence?
Here is “relieve” used in a sentence: “The medicine helped relieve his back pain.”
What is another word for “relieve”?
Words with a similar meaning to “relieve” include allay and assuage.
What part of speech is “relieve”?
“Relieve” is a verb.
Where does the word “relieve” come from?
The word “relieve” comes from Latin. From Old French relever, from Latin relevare, "to lift up, lighten" — from re- plus levare, "to lift.".
Is “relieve” a common word?
“Relieve” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “relieve” have?
“Relieve” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry.
What is the difference between relieve and alleviate?
Relieve and alleviate both mean to ease pain, distress, or worry, and they are close synonyms. Alleviate tends to suggest a partial or gradual easing rather than complete removal, while relieve can describe either a partial easing or full removal of the problem. Both words work in medical and emotional contexts.
What does it mean to relieve someone of a duty?
To relieve someone of a duty means to free them from a task or responsibility, often by taking their place, such as relieving a guard at the end of a shift. This sense focuses on transferring or ending an obligation rather than easing pain or distress.
What preposition follows relieve when talking about duties?
Relieve is followed by "of" when referring to duties or responsibilities, as in "relieve someone of their post" or "relieve a worker of their duties." When referring to pain or distress, relieve is often used without a following preposition, as in "relieve the pain."