alleviate
Alleviate (verb) means to make pain, suffering, or a problem less severe. Example: “The medication helped alleviate her back pain.”
How to use alleviate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo ease something bad — pain, pressure, a shortage — without necessarily curing it completely.
Alleviate reduces a problem; it does not mean to solve it completely — a headache pill alleviates pain, it doesn't cure the underlying cause.
Word forms
alleviated past tense, alleviates singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The medication helped _____ her back pain.
Etymology
From Late Latin alleviare, "to lighten," built from levis, meaning "light" (as in not heavy) — the same root that gives us "levity" and "elevate."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for alleviate
See all rhymes for alleviate →Frequently asked questions
What does “alleviate” mean?
The word “alleviate” means to make pain, suffering, or a problem less severe. In plain terms, to ease something bad — pain, pressure, a shortage — without necessarily curing it completely.
How do you pronounce “alleviate”?
“Alleviate” is pronounced uh-LEE-vee-ayt (/əˈli.vi.eɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “alleviate” in a sentence?
Here is “alleviate” used in a sentence: “The medication helped alleviate her back pain.”
What part of speech is “alleviate”?
“Alleviate” is a verb.
Where does the word “alleviate” come from?
The word “alleviate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin alleviare, "to lighten," built from levis, meaning "light" (as in not heavy) — the same root that gives us "levity" and "elevate.".
Is “alleviate” a common word?
“Alleviate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
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