Definition of Relieve

1. Verb. Provide physical relief, as from pain. "This pill will relieve your headaches"


2. Verb. Free someone temporarily from his or her obligations. "Sam cannot relieve Sue "
Exact synonyms: Take Over
Specialized synonyms: Spell
Generic synonyms: Discharge, Free
Derivative terms: Reliever, Reliever

3. Verb. Grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to. ; "She exempted me from the exam"
Exact synonyms: Exempt, Free
Specialized synonyms: Derestrict, Deregulate, Dispense, Forgive, Spare
Antonyms: Enforce
Derivative terms: Exemption

4. Verb. Lessen the intensity of or calm. "The good news will relieve her"; "Still the fears"
Exact synonyms: Allay, Ease, Still
Generic synonyms: Comfort, Console, Solace, Soothe
Specialized synonyms: Abreact
Derivative terms: Allayer, Ease, Easement, Reliever, Still

5. Verb. Save from ruin, destruction, or harm.
Exact synonyms: Salvage, Salve, Save
Generic synonyms: Deliver, Rescue
Derivative terms: Salvage, Salvage, Salvager, Salvage, Salvage, Salvation, Saver

6. Verb. Relieve oneself of troubling information. "They relieve themselves"
Exact synonyms: Unbosom
Generic synonyms: Confide

7. Verb. Provide relief for. ; "Remedy his illness"
Exact synonyms: Remedy
Category relationships: Medicine, Practice Of Medicine
Generic synonyms: Care For, Treat
Derivative terms: Remedy

8. Verb. Free from a burden, evil, or distress.
Generic synonyms: Disembarrass, Free, Rid

9. Verb. Take by stealing. "They relieve him of all his money"; "The thief relieved me of $100"
Generic synonyms: Take

10. Verb. Grant exemption or release to. "Sam cannot relieve Sue "; "Please excuse me from this class"
Exact synonyms: Excuse, Exempt, Let Off
Specialized synonyms: Frank
Generic synonyms: Absolve, Free, Justify
Derivative terms: Excuse

11. Verb. Alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive. "Lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents"
Exact synonyms: Lighten
Generic synonyms: Mitigate

Definition of Relieve

1. v. t. To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise.

Definition of Relieve

1. Verb. To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

2. Verb. To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort. (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

3. Verb. To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.). (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

4. Verb. To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty). (defdate from 14th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (obsolete) To lift up; to raise again. (defdate 15th-17th c.) ¹

6. Verb. (rare) To raise (someone) out of danger or ''from'' (a specified difficulty etc.). (defdate from 15th c.) ¹

7. Verb. (legal) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to. (defdate from 15th c.) ¹

8. Verb. To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the seige on. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

9. Verb. To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

10. Verb. (military) To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

11. Verb. (rare) To make (something) stand out; to make prominent, bring into relief. (defdate from 18th c.) ¹

12. Verb. (reflexive) To go to the toilet; to defecate or urinate. (defdate from 20th c.) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Relieve

1. to lessen or free from pain or discomfort [v -LIEVED, -LIEVING, -LIEVES]

Medical Definition of Relieve

1. To free wholly or partly from pain or discomfort, either physical or mental. Origin: thru O. Fr. Fr. L. Re-levo, to lift up, lighten (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Relieve

relief valve
relief valves
relief work
relief worker
relief workers
reliefful
reliefless
relieflike
reliefs
relier
reliers
relies
reliest
relieth
relievable
relieved
relievedly
relievement
relievements
reliever
relievers
relieves
relievest
relieveth
relieving
relievingly
relievo
relievos

Literary usage of Relieve

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York by Daniel Defoe (1790)
"... having had but a little time, yet it was enough to relieve them, and find them •with bread or other eatables ; and one of the fellows, being the cook's ..."

2. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1846)
"But it is a wonder that his necessity did not put him upon selling or pawning some of his jewels, that he might have wherewithal to relieve himself in his ..."

3. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (1912)
"lThe scene with Cinna is only played on the Elizabethan stage; it is richly humorous and shows what a master craftsman Shakespeare was to relieve the ..."

4. The Works of Washington Irving by Washington Irving (1861)
"He sent missives to Colonel Gansevoort assuring him that he would relieve him in the course of a few days. " Be under no kind of apprehension," writes he. ..."

5. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1906)
"By special contract, he may relieve himself of his common-law liability as an insurer, and may contract against liability arising from certain losses which ..."

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