relief
rih-LEEF
Relief (noun) means a feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry. Example: “It was a relief to finally hear she'd landed safely.”
noun
1
A feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry.
"It was a relief to finally hear she'd landed safely."
"Painkillers offered some relief from the headache."
"She sighed with relief when the exam was finally over."
2
Aid given to people in need, such as food, money, or medical care.
"Aid agencies sent relief supplies to the flooded region."
"Volunteers collected clothes and blankets for disaster relief."
"The charity provides relief to families who have lost their homes."
3
(art) A sculpture or design in which shapes stand out from a flat background.
"The building's facade features an elaborate stone relief."
"The museum has a carved relief of a lion above its doorway."
"Sculptors make a relief by cutting the stone back from a flat panel."
How to use relief
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe easing of a burden — whether emotional, physical, or in the form of practical help.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sigh of relief
relief effort
pain relief
tax relief
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Word forms
- Plural
- reliefs
- Comparative
- more relief
- Superlative
- most relief
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ to finally hear she'd landed safely.
Etymology
From Italian rilievo, "raised work," from rilevare, "to raise," ultimately from Latin relevare.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for relief
See all rhymes for relief →Frequently asked questions
What does “relief” mean?
The word “relief” means a feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry. In plain terms, the easing of a burden — whether emotional, physical, or in the form of practical help.
How do you pronounce “relief”?
“Relief” is pronounced rih-LEEF (/ɹɪˈliːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “relief” in a sentence?
Here is “relief” used in a sentence: “It was a relief to finally hear she'd landed safely.”
What part of speech is “relief”?
“Relief” is a noun.
Where does the word “relief” come from?
The word “relief” comes from Latin. From Italian rilievo, "raised work," from rilevare, "to raise," ultimately from Latin relevare.
Is “relief” a common word?
“Relief” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “relief” have?
“Relief” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry.
What is the difference between relief and comfort?
Relief is the ease you feel when something painful or worrying is removed — the moment the burden lifts. Comfort is a broader, ongoing sense of being soothed or at ease, often given by others. Relief follows the end of distress, while comfort can be present at any time.
What is an example of relief?
The wave of ease you feel when a lost child is found safe, or when test results come back clear, is relief. Other examples include the relief of finishing a hard exam, or hearing that a loved one's surgery went well. It is the calm that follows removed worry.
What is the opposite of relief?
The opposite is distress, anxiety, or worry — the very feelings that relief brings to an end. Where relief is the easing of tension, its antonyms describe tension building or continuing, such as unease, strain, or dread. You feel relief precisely because that discomfort has finally been lifted.
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