re ‧ lieve S3 /rɪˈliːv/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: relever 'to raise, relieve' , from Latin relevare , from levare 'to raise' ]
1 . PAIN to reduce someone’s pain or unpleasant feelings ⇨ relief :
Drugs helped to relieve the pain.
relieve tension/pressure/stress etc
Some people eat for comfort, to relieve their anxieties.
2 . PROBLEM to make a problem less difficult or serious:
programs aimed at relieving unemployment
3 . REPLACE SOMEBODY to replace someone when they have completed their duty or when they need a rest:
The guard will be relieved at midnight.
4 . relieve yourself a polite expression meaning to ↑ urinate – often used humorously
5 . BORING to make something less dull and boring:
a plain wall relieved by flecks of blue and yellow
relieve the boredom/monotony
The books helped relieve the boredom of waiting.
6 . WAR formal to free a town which an enemy has surrounded
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ relieve pain
What’s the best way of relieving back pain?
▪ relieve symptoms
Drinking a pint of water should help to relieve the symptoms.
▪ relieve tension
They all laughed and it helped to relieve the tension.
▪ relieve stress
Don’t resort to alcohol to relieve your stress.
▪ relieve anxiety
We offer patients a gentle massage to help relieve anxiety.
▪ relieve pressure
Doctors should have inserted a needle into the lungs to relieve the pressure.
relieve somebody of something phrasal verb
1 . formal to help someone by taking something from them, especially a job they do not want to do or something heavy that they are carrying:
A secretary was hired to relieve her of some of the administrative work.
He rose and relieved her of her bags.
2 . relieve somebody of their post/duties/command etc formal to take away someone’s job because they have done something wrong:
After the defeat General Meyer was relieved of his command.
3 . to steal something from someone – used humorously:
A couple of guys relieved him of his wallet.