relieve

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'relieve' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean to provide relief or reduce pain, suffering, anxiety, or stress. For example, "The warm bath relieved the ache in my shoulder."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Launching the initiative Gordon Brown said earlier today: "Eco-towns will help to relieve the shortage of affordable homes to rent and buy, and minimise the effects of climate change on a major scale.

The Guardian

Nose drops with antihistamines also relieve symptoms but they taste bitter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Aberdeen were struggling to relieve the pressure, but they broke to effect in the 32nd minute when Hayes won the ball from Croft and sprinted up the line.

The Guardian - Sport

Filled with humour and almost real-time practical advice about the weekly price movements of supermarket food, it is a plain-speaking, practical austerity cookery guide – quite literally how to feed yourself and your toddler on £10 a week, in ways that are healthy, tasty and, importantly (to relieve the tedium of baked beans), varied.

The Guardian

"More investment in social work is absolutely vital to relieve the tension in an already strained workforce.

The Guardian

In some of the starkest comments about Greece by a senior British politician, Clarke said he hoped that a "very great deal of work" was being carried out to minimise the impact on financial markets and to relieve poverty in Greece.

The Guardian

He went back to his corner to discover that his team hadn't bothered to bring an ice pack or any endswell to relieve the pain and reduce the bulge.

The Guardian - Sport

But with a final deal in sight, Republicans and some Democrats are demanding a say in the decision to relieve sanctions.

The Guardian

"If eligible couples have two children, it might help to relieve the pressure".

The Guardian

Then in the 1990s they were quietly disappeared and replaced with the grey sanisettes where Parisians can now relieve themselves in privacy and isolation.

The Guardian

It also disclosed that international governments were stockpiling large supplies of GSK's anti-viral treatment Relenza, which can relieve swine flu symptoms.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relieve", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Choose synonyms like "alleviate" or "mitigate" for more formal contexts, or "ease" and "soothe" for gentler forms of relief.

Common error

While "relieve" is versatile, avoid overusing it in very informal contexts where simpler words like "help" or "ease" might sound more natural. Instead of saying, "This game relieved my boredom", try "This game helped ease my boredom."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "relieve" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being eased or lessened. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the word's correct usage and the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relieve" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of easing or reducing something negative. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status and wide applicability. While common across diverse contexts, including news, business, and science, more formal synonyms like "alleviate" or "mitigate" might be preferable in specific settings. Understanding its purpose and potential alternatives allows for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alleviate

A more formal synonym for reducing suffering or difficulty.

ease

Implies making something less severe or troublesome.

reduce

A general term for making something smaller or less.

mitigate

Suggests lessening the severity of something harmful or negative.

lessen

Similar to reduce, but often used for abstract things like pain or worry.

soothe

Implies a gentle or comforting form of relief.

lighten

To make something less heavy or burdensome, whether physically or emotionally.

appease

To pacify or calm someone by giving them what they want.

assuage

Similar to soothe, but can also imply satisfying a need or desire.

allay

To diminish or put at rest fear, suspicion, or worry.

FAQs

How can I use "relieve" in a sentence?

You can use "relieve" to describe easing pain, stress, or burden, as in "The medicine helped "relieve" the pain" or "The new policy aims to "relieve" financial pressure."

What are some common synonyms for "relieve"?

Common synonyms for "relieve" include "alleviate", "ease", "reduce", and "mitigate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "relieve" in formal writing?

While "relieve" is generally acceptable in formal writing, consider whether a more precise synonym like "alleviate" or "mitigate" would be more suitable to convey the intended meaning.

What is the difference between "relieve" and "cure"?

"Relieve" means to lessen or reduce symptoms or difficulties, while "cure" means to completely eliminate the cause of a disease or problem. You might "relieve" a headache with medication, but the medication may not "cure" the underlying cause.