To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
"The comforting words helped to relieve her anxiety about the upcoming exam."
In plain English: To relieve means to make something less painful, difficult, or stressful by removing it or easing its burden.
"The massage helped to relieve her back pain after she worked all day standing up."
Usage: Use relieve when you want to reduce someone's anxiety or emotional burden by offering comfort or reassurance. This verb specifically addresses easing mental distress rather than physically removing an object or solving a logistical problem.
Example Sentences
"The massage helped to relieve her back pain after she worked all day standing up."verb
"The warm bath helped relieve his sore muscles after the long hike."verb
"I called my manager to ask for leave that would help relieve some of her workload."verb
"Seeing an old friend at the park was enough to instantly relieve their sadness."verb
The word "relieve" entered English from Old French relever, originally meaning to lift up or lighten a load. Its roots lie in Latin relevo, where the prefix meant back and the base verb meant to lift.