relieved; relieving
1
a
: to free from a burden : give aid or help to
b
: to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction
c
: to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition
2
3
a
: to release from a post, station, or duty
b
: to take the place of
will relieve the starting pitcher
4
: to remove or lessen the monotony of
a park relieves the urban landscape
5
a
: to set off by contrast
b
: to raise in relief
6
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
1
: to bring or give relief
2
: to stand out in relief
3
: to serve as a relief pitcher
Synonyms
Examples of relieve in a Sentence
I took a pill to relieve my headache.
I wish I could relieve your suffering.
What's the best way to relieve stress?
She tried to relieve the tension by making a joke.
an effort to relieve traffic congestion
We need to find ways to relieve overcrowding in our schools.
I've come to relieve the guard on duty.
The soldiers were relieved by 30,000 fresh troops.
Recent Examples on the Web
Salt particles also land on your skin, which may help relieve eczema and psoriasis symptoms.
—
Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Help relieve this tot’s climate anxiety with some eco- and weather-friendly gifts like this Patagonia three-season jacket and a weather watch toy.
—Chloe Malle, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The good news: There is evidence to suggest that lemon balm can help relieve anxiety, says Dana Cohen, MD, an integrative medicine practitioner in New York City and co-author of Quench: Beat Fatigue, Drop Weight, and Heal Your Body Through the New Science of Optimum Hydration.
—Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 19 Nov. 2024
The audience is kept a step ahead when there was a flaw in the plan and trouble was lurking, so our building tensions could be relieved by how flawlessly our heroes improvised their way out of jams.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near relieve
Cite this Entry
“Relieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relieve. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
relieve
verb
re·lieve
ri-ˈlēv 
relieved; relieving
1
: to free partly or wholly from a burden or from distress
relieve parents of worry
2
: to bring about the removal or reduction of
efforts to relieve world hunger
3
: to release from a post or duty
relieve a sentry
4
: to break the sameness of
a black dress relieved by a white collar
5
: to put or stand out in relief : set off by contrast (as in sculpture or painting)
6
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
reliever
noun
Medical Definition
relieve
transitive verb
re·lieve
ri-ˈlēv
relieved; relieving
1
: to bring about the removal or alleviation of (pain or discomfort)
2
: to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
reliever
noun
Legal Definition
relieve
transitive verb
re·lieve
relieved; relieving
: to set free from a duty, burden, or liability
cannot be relieved of his negligence
the trust cannot relieve the trustees of those very basic duties that the law imposes—Hosey v. Burgess, 890 S.W.2d 262 (1995)
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