relieve verb (MAKE BETTER) - definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Click to hear the UK pronunciation of this word

Click to hear the US pronunciation of this word

/rɪˈliːv/ v

Definition

•

[T] to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strong

She was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain.

She relieved her boredom at home by learning how to type.

•

[T] to improve an unpleasant situation

The council is considering banning vehicles from the town centre to relieve congestion.

(Definition of relieve verb (MAKE BETTER) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

+ Free Dictionary Toolbar for Browsers
+ Add Dictionary Search to iGoogle and your website

+ Become a fan on Facebook
+ Follow us on Twitter!

Browse the Dictionary

relief noun (HAPPINESS)
relief noun (HELP)
relief noun (RAISED AREA)
relief map noun
relief road noun
relieve verb (MAKE BETTER)
relieve verb (HELP)
relieve verb (URINATE)
relieve sb of sth (TAKE)
relieve sb of sth (END JOB)
relieved adjective

Our dictionaries

British English
American English
Business English
Learner's Dictionary
Essential British English
Essential American English

English-Spanish
Español-inglés
English-Turkish

Browse the Thesaurus

Business
Clothes
Education
Finance
Light and colour
Personal care

NEW “relieve” in other dictionaries

in Spanish
in Turkish

American English
Business English
Learner's

relieve verb HELP
relieve verb URINATE
relieve sb of sth TAKE
relieve sb of sth END JOB
relieve yourself

See all results »

relieve sb of sth TAKE
relieve sb of sth END JOB

See all phrasal verb results »

Word of the Day

get in a sweat

to worry

Word of the Day ►

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More ►

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.