Relieve

/rɪˈliːv/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious

The medication helped to relieve her headache.

to free from a burden or obligation

The charity aims to relieve poverty in the community.

to replace someone in a duty or role

The officer was relieved by a new shift at midnight.

to provide assistance to someone in need

They organized a fundraiser to relieve victims of the natural disaster.

to alleviate or lessen a stressful situation

She tried to relieve the tension in the room with a joke.

from Old French 'relever', meaning 'to raise again'.

relieve someone's pain

to reduce the discomfort someone is experiencing

relieve tension

to reduce stress or anxiety

relieve the pressure

to take away stress or demanding situations

relieve oneself

a euphemism for using the restroom

alleviate

to make something less severe

assuage

to make an unpleasant feeling less intense

soothe

to gently calm or reduce discomfort

to chill out

Just take a break and relieve yourself from all that stress.

to let loose

After the finals, I just want to relieve and have fun.