had been relieved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been relieved" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone experienced a sense of relief in the past, often in relation to a specific event or situation. Example: "After the long meeting, she had been relieved to hear that the project was approved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Pat had been relieved as Police Commissioner.

The New Yorker

Valerie had been relieved when they got into the dirty old city at last.

The New Yorker

The Premier League club announced this morning that Adkins had been relieved of his managerial duties.

The Guardian - Sport

So Gloucester managed to avoid conceding a fourth try but the pressure had been relieved.

The Guardian - Sport

Downing Street later said he had been "relieved of his responsibilities" as a consequence.

The Guardian

Shortly before, a senior general, Ri Yong Ho, had been relieved of all his posts because of illness.

The Economist

"It was as if he had been relieved of the duty of caring about the details of life.

The New Yorker

He said the company's officials had been "relieved of their duties" but the employees had been retained.

The New York Times

The Bucs issued a statement last night saying that Dungy had been relieved of his coaching duties after six seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

The Lower Saxons confirmed late on Monday afternoon that the 52-year-old had been relieved off his duties.

The Guardian - Sport

He was 62 and had been relieved of his duties as prime minister after suffering a stroke in early April.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been relieved" when you want to express a past feeling of ease or liberation after a period of stress or obligation. Ensure the context clearly indicates what caused the relief.

Common error

Avoid using "had been relieved" when an active construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "the pressure had been relieved", consider "they relieved the pressure" if you want to emphasize the actor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been relieved" functions as a verb phrase in the passive perfect form. It indicates that a subject experienced a state of relief as a result of a prior action. As Ludwig AI suggests, this experience is viewed from a point in the past relative to another past action or time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been relieved" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a past state of relief. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to indicate that a subject experienced a feeling of ease after a burden or pressure had been lifted. It's suitable for various contexts, from formal news reports to casual conversation, though predominantly found in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what prompted the feeling of relief and choose active constructions when you want to emphasize the actor rather than the state of being relieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had felt relieved

Focuses more on the emotional experience of relief.

had experienced relief

Emphasizes the occurrence of the feeling of relief.

had been freed from

Suggests a release from a burden or obligation.

had been discharged of

Implies a formal release from a responsibility.

had been unburdened

Highlights the removal of a weight or worry.

had been eased

Indicates a lessening of tension or difficulty.

had been mitigated

Suggests a reduction in the severity of something negative.

had been alleviated

Similar to mitigated, but often used for suffering or pain.

had been assuaged

Implies a soothing or calming of fears or concerns.

had been delivered from

Suggests rescue or liberation from a difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I use "had been relieved" in a sentence?

You can use "had been relieved" to describe a past feeling of liberation or ease. For example, "After the exam, she "had been relieved" to finally relax".

What is a good alternative to "had been relieved"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "had felt relieved", "had experienced relief", or "had been freed from".

Is there a difference between "had been relieved" and "felt relieved"?

"Had been relieved" implies an external action that resulted in relief, while "felt relieved" focuses solely on the internal feeling. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the cause or the feeling itself.

When is it more appropriate to use "had been relieved of" instead of "had been relieved"?

Use "had been relieved of" when referring to the removal of a duty, responsibility, or position. For instance, "He "had been relieved of" his duties after the investigation".