Meaning & Definition of word "Allay"
Allay
/əˈleɪ/
verb:
- 1. to diminish or put to rest (fear, suspicion, or worry)
- Example: The manager spoke to the team to allay their concerns about the upcoming project changes.
- 2. to alleviate or relieve pain or discomfort
- Example: She took a warm bath to allay the tension in her muscles after a long day.
- 3. to calm or pacify someone
- Example: The doctor tried to allay the patient's anxiety before the surgery.
- 4. to lessen the intensity of something
- Example: He hoped that the new policy would allay public fears about the safety of the product.
- 5. to reduce or mitigate
- Example: Efforts were made to allay the impact of the natural disaster on the local communities.
Etymology
●Middle English, from Old English 'aleggen', meaning to lay down.
Common Phrases and Expressions
allay one's fears:
to relieve someone's concerns or worries.
allay concerns:
to calm or reduce concerns someone may have.
allay doubts:
to dispel or diminish any uncertainties.
Related Words
alleviate:
to make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
soothe:
to gently calm someone or make something less painful.
Slang Meanings of allay
Meaning: to chill out
● Example Sentence: He just needs to allay and not overthink things.
Meaning: to ease up
● Example Sentence: Let's allay the stress before the big meeting.