relieve the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relieve the problem" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe taking action to solve or alleviate a difficult or troubling situation. Here is an example: "After months of struggling with insomnia, she finally found a medication that helped relieve the problem and allowed her to sleep peacefully again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Scientists hope to relieve the problem of crowded communications bands with better technology.

The New York Times - Science

The railroad plans to run more trains to Brooklyn and Hunters Point until it gains access to Grand Central Terminal -- a move that will relieve the problem.

The New York Times

Last year's project caused traffic jams for hours along the river; this year the city hopes that adding detour signs will relieve the problem.

The New York Times - Travel

The speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, said Wednesday that the state should "seriously examine" allowing early voting to relieve the problem of the long lines on Election Day.

The New York Times

It is shown that CLNN can relieve the problem of vanishing gradient.

Information Sciences

To relieve the problem of congestion, i.e., reducing delay time, the cloud provider distributes more servers to service for users.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Choules [ 9] declared that integrating information technologies into health education will relieve the problems mentioned above and will greatly benefit the community of teachers, learners and education institutions.

BMC Medical Education

But an abductor release procedure relieved the problem last month, and he avoided surgery.

The New York Times

Those who provide services to the poor in many cities say the economic recovery has not relieved the problem.

The New York Times

Tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss, and treatment with a hearing aid often relieves the problem.

The New York Times - Health

The Somerset director of cricket, Matthew Maynard, is similarly relieved the problem has been quickly resolved and sees no reason why Leach cannot represent England.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relieve the problem", ensure the context clearly identifies the problem being addressed. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

While "relieve the problem" is generally acceptable, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "fix it" or "help with it" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relieve the problem" functions as a verb phrase, where "relieve" is the transitive verb and "the problem" is the direct object. It describes the action of making a problem less severe. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relieve the problem" is a versatile expression used to describe actions taken to lessen the impact of a specific issue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and generally appropriate for neutral to professional contexts. While "solve the problem" indicates a complete fix, "relieve the problem" focuses on reducing severity. Common across news, scientific writing and Wikipedia, but avoid its overuse in informal conversation by opting for alternatives such as "alleviate the issue", "ease the difficulty", or "mitigate the concern".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alleviate the issue

Replaces "problem" with "issue" and "relieve" with "alleviate", maintaining a similar level of formality.

ease the difficulty

Substitutes "problem" with "difficulty" and "relieve" with "ease", suggesting a lessening of hardship.

mitigate the concern

Changes "problem" to "concern" and "relieve" to "mitigate", implying a reduction in worry.

lessen the burden

Replaces "problem" with "burden" and "relieve" with "lessen", focusing on reducing a weight or strain.

address the matter

Offers a more formal alternative, replacing "relieve the problem" with a phrase suggesting direct attention to a specific issue.

resolve the situation

Suggests a complete solution, changing "relieve" to "resolve" and "problem" to "situation".

ameliorate the condition

Provides a formal and somewhat clinical alternative, suitable for describing improvements in a state or circumstance.

lighten the load

Focuses on reducing the weight or pressure of a problem, using more metaphorical language.

rectify the predicament

Implies correcting or setting right a difficult or unpleasant situation.

improve the state

Suggests a general enhancement of a situation, differing from the direct focus on a specific problem.

FAQs

What does "relieve the problem" mean?

The phrase "relieve the problem" means to alleviate, reduce, or eliminate a particular issue or difficulty. It suggests taking action to make a situation less troublesome or burdensome.

What can I say instead of "relieve the problem"?

You can use alternatives like "alleviate the issue", "ease the difficulty", or "mitigate the concern" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "relieve the problem"?

The phrase "relieve the problem" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for professional, academic, and news contexts, but might sound slightly stilted in very informal settings.

Is it better to say "solve the problem" or "relieve the problem"?

"Solve the problem" suggests a complete resolution, while "relieve the problem" implies reducing its severity. Choose "solve the problem" when you want to convey a total fix, and "relieve the problem" when you're addressing symptoms or reducing impact.