INDEX:
1. to make someone feel less upset, sad, worried, etc
2. making you feel less upset, sad, worried etc
3. a happier feeling after you have been upset, worried, etc
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ UPSET
↑ DISAPPOINTED
↑ FED UP
↑ WORRIED/WORRYING
↑ SAD
↑ CALM
↑ HAPPY
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1. to make someone feel less upset, sad, worried, etc
▷ comfort /ˈkʌmfəʳt/ [transitive verb]
to comfort someone, for example by telling them there is nothing to worry about or putting your arms around them :
▪ He tried to comfort her by telling her that everything would be all right.
▪ Joyce did her best to comfort him, assuring him that it was not his fault.
▪ The two sisters hugged each other, sharing their grief and comforting one another.
▷ make somebody feel better /ˌmeɪk somebody fiːl ˈbetəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to say something to someone or give them something that makes them feel less upset, sad, worried etc :
▪ What can I do to make you feel better?
▪ It might make you feel better to eat something.
▪ Why don’t you tell me what’s troubling you? It’ll make you feel better.
▷ cheer somebody up /ˌtʃɪəʳ somebody ˈʌp/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to make someone feel happier when they are disappointed or sad about something :
▪ Thanks for the card. It really cheered me up.
▪ I’m taking Jenny out tonight to cheer her up.
▪ I tried to think of something to say to cheer him up.
▷ console /kənˈsəʊl/ [transitive verb] written
to comfort someone when they feel unhappy or disappointed, especially by saying something that makes them realize the situation is not so bad :
▪ A priest was called in to console victims’ families.
▪ I wanted to console her, but I didn’t know how.
console yourself with something
▪ Archer consoled himself with the thought that at least he had done his best.
▷ reassure /ˌriːəˈʃʊəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to make someone feel less worried or frightened about a situation, for example by being friendly to them or by telling them there is nothing to worry about :
▪ My mother did her best to reassure me, but I still felt nervous and insecure.
reassure somebody about something
▪ The company tried to reassure shareholders about the safety of their stocks.
reassure somebody that
▪ The doctor did his best to reassure us that Cindy would be all right.
▪ The president reassured voters that there would be no tax increase.
▪ I tried to reassure her that she had made the right decision in turning down the job.
▷ soothe /suːð/ [transitive verb]
to make someone feel more calm and relaxed when they are upset, anxious, or nervous :
▪ When the baby cried, his mother soothed him by stroking his hot little head.
▪ Maybe a drink would help soothe your nerves.
▷ cheer up /ˌtʃiːr ˈʌp/ [verb phrase] spoken
say this to tell someone to stop feeling disappointed or sad and try to be more cheerful :
▪ Cheer up! It’s not that bad.
▪ Cheer up, Phil. You’ll find another job.
▷ don’t worry /ˌdəʊnt ˈwʌriǁ-ˈwɜːri/ spoken
say this when you want to make someone less worried or nervous, because you do not think there is anything to be worried or nervous about :
▪ Don’t worry. The doctor says it’s just a bad cold.
▪ Don’t worry! The flight’s not until 9:30. We have plenty of time.
2. making you feel less upset, sad, worried etc
▷ comforting /ˈkʌmfəʳtɪŋ/ [adjective]
▪ It was comforting to see the lights of home.
▪ Stefan tried to think of something comforting to say.
▪ She laid a comforting hand on my arm.
comfortingly [adverb]
▪ She squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.
▷ soothing /ˈsuːðɪŋ/ [adjective]
something that is soothing makes you feel calm and relaxed when you are upset, anxious, or nervous :
▪ My mother had a gentle, soothing voice.
▪ I love Mozart’s music. I find it very soothing.
▪ The shower was wonderfully soothing.
soothingly [adverb]
▪ She rocked the baby soothingly in her arms.
▷ reassuring /ˌriːəˈʃʊ ə rɪŋ◂/ [adjective]
making you feel less worried or frightened about something :
▪ The teacher gave him a reassuring smile.
▪ My dad tried to sound calm and reassuring.
enormously reassuring
very reassuring
▪ I found his words enormously reassuring.
reassuringly [adverb]
▪ Bill squeezed her hand reassuringly.
▷ consoling /kənˈsəʊlɪŋ/ [adjective] especially written
something that is consoling, especially something that someone says, makes you feel better when you are unhappy or disappointed :
▪ What you said about George was very consoling.
▪ I didn’t find his words very consoling.
▪ He nodded and put a consoling arm around her shoulders.
3. a happier feeling after you have been upset, worried, etc
▷ comfort /ˈkʌmfəʳt/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Emily goes to a women’s group for comfort and emotional support.
bring/give comfort
▪ Your letter brought me great comfort after John died.
▪ Her faith gave her comfort during a very difficult time.
take/draw comfort from
▪ The family has taken some comfort from the fact that her condition has stabilized.
▷ relief /rɪˈliːf/ [singular/uncountable noun]
the feeling you have when something worrying or frightening has ended or has not happened :
▪ When the plane finally landed, we all felt a tremendous sense of relief.
▪ It was a great relief to know that the children were safe.
that’s a relief!/what a relief!
▪ What a relief! We were so worried about you.
▪ What a relief to finally get away from the office.
to your relief
making you feel relief
▪ To our relief, the deal went through without any problems.
heave/breathe a sigh of relief
breathe loudly to show your relief
▪ She breathed a sign of relief when he finally answered the phone.
▷ consolation /ˌkɒnsəˈleɪʃ ə nǁˌkɑːn-/ [singular/uncountable noun]
a thought or fact that makes you feel less disappointed or sad, for example when someone has died or when you have just heard some disappointing news :
▪ It was some consolation to know that he could take the exam again.
▪ My one consolation is that she died peacefully.
take (some) consolation
▪ It was difficult to say goodbye, but I took some consolation from the fact that I would see her again at the end of the year.