Meaning & Definition of word "Alleviate"

Alleviate

/əˈliːviˌeɪt/

verb:

  • 1. to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
    • Example: The new medication was developed to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
  • 2. to mitigate or reduce pain or difficulty.
    • Example: They implemented measures to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
  • 3. to provide relief from a burden.
    • Example: Community programs aim to alleviate poverty in struggling neighborhoods.
  • 4. to lessen the intensity or severity of a problem.
    • Example: The government is seeking ways to alleviate the impact of the economic downturn on workers.

Etymology

Latin 'alleviare', from 'ad-' meaning 'to' + 'levis' meaning 'light'

Common Phrases and Expressions

alleviate pain:

to make pain less severe

alleviate stress:

to reduce stress levels

alleviate concerns:

to make worries less intense

Related Words

relief:

the easing of pain or distress

mitigation:

the action of reducing the severity of something

comfort:

a state of physical ease and freedom from pain

Slang Meanings of alleviate

Meaning: take a load off

Example Sentence: After a long day, just take a load off and relax.

Meaning: lighten the load

Example Sentence: Let’s lighten the load with some good music.