Relieve Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

RELIEVE meaning: 1 : to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling); ... verb. relieves; relieved; relieving ... [phrasal verb]. TheBritannicaDictionary mobilesearch Home AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary × BritannicaHomepage AsktheEditor WordoftheDay Quizzes CoreVocabulary BrowsetheDictionary TheBritannicaDictionary relieve 2ENTRIESFOUND: relieve(verb) relieved(adjective) relieve /rɪˈliːv/ verb relieves; relieved; relieving relieve /rɪˈliːv/ verb relieves; relieved; relieving BritannicaDictionarydefinitionofRELIEVE [+object] 1  : toreduceorremove(something,suchaspainoranunpleasantfeeling) Itookapilltorelievemyheadache. IwishIcouldrelieveyoursuffering. What'sthebestwaytorelievestress? Shetriedtorelievethetensionbymakingajoke. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  : tomake(aproblem)lessserious anefforttorelievetrafficcongestion relievepoverty Weneedtofindwaystorelieveovercrowdinginourschools. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  : totaketheplaceof(someonewhohasbeenworking,fighting,etc.) I'vecometorelievetheguardonduty. Thesoldierswererelievedby30,000freshtroops. (baseball)Herelievedthestartingpitcherinthesixthinning. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 4  : tomake(something)lessboring,dull,etc.,byincludingapartthatisdifferent Hislatestbookisalong,seriousnovelrelievedonlybytheoccasionaljoke. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples relieveof [phrasalverb] 1  relieve(someone)of(something) formal : totake(somethingthatisdifficultorunpleasant)from(someone) Shesignedacontractthatrelievedhimofallresponsibilityregardingthebusiness. Thelawrelievesyouofanyliability.[=underthelaw,youwillnotbeliable] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 2  informal+humorous : tosteal(something)from(someone) Someonerelievedhimofhiswallet.[=someonestolehiswallet] [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples 3  : toremove(someonewhohasdonesomethingwrong)from(apost,duty,job,etc.) Thegeneralwasrelievedofhiscommand. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples relieveyourself : topasswastefromyourbody Hestoppedthecarandwentoutintothewoodstorelievehimself.[=urinate] Thepuppyrelievedhimselfonthecarpet. [+]moreexamples [-]hideexamples [+]Examplesentences [-]Hideexamples ASKTHEEDITOR Whatprepositionshouldbeusedafter"responsible"? Seetheanswer» QUIZZES VocabularyQuiz Testyourwordpower TaketheQuiz» NameThatThing Takeourvisualquiz TestYourKnowledge» WORDOFTHEDAY investigate :totrytofindoutthefactsabout(something)inordertolearnhowithappened,whodidit,etc. LearnMore» AboutUs&LegalInfo PartnerProgram ContactUs PrivacyNotice TermsofUse PronunciationSymbols Help ©2022EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.