Relieve meaning

What does “relieve” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“relieve” is a verb with 11 meanings. Its most common meaning is: provide physical relief, as from pain.

relieve

provide physical relief, as from pain
“This pill will relieve your headaches”
Synonymsalleviate palliate assuage
free someone temporarily from his or her obligations
Synonymstake over
grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to
“She exempted me from the exam”
Synonymsexempt free
lessen the intensity of or calm
“The news eased my conscience”
“still the fears”
Synonymsstill allay ease
save from ruin, destruction, or harm
Synonymssalvage salve save
relieve oneself of troubling information
Synonymsunbosom
provide relief for
“remedy his illness”
Synonymsremedy
free from a burden, evil, or distress
take by stealing
“The thief relieved me of $100”
grant exemption or release to
“Please excuse me from this class”
Synonymsexcuse let off exempt
alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive
“relieve the pressure and the stress”
“lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents”
Synonymslighten

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University