relief
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relief¹
- /rɪˈliːf/
Rhymes with -iːf
Where it comes from
From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”). See also relieve.
noun reliefs
-
The removal of stress or discomfort.
I sighed with relief when I found out that my daughter hadn't got lost, but was waiting for me at home.
Similar: ease, alleviation, liss, respite, comfort, consolation, mercy, release, relief, solace
-
The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort.
Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one,[…].”
Similar: ease, alleviation, liss, mercy
- Release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another.
-
The person who takes over a shift for another.
Officer Schmidt can finally go home because his relief has arrived.
Similar: stand-in, substitute, backup, fill-in
- Aid or assistance offered in time of need. Relief arrived quickly after the disaster.
- Military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement.
-
Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress.
Similar: amends, recompense, remuneration, acquittal, assyth, bote, compensation, indemnification, indemnity, mends, quittal, recompensation
- A lowering of a tax through special provisions; tax relief.
- A certain fine or composition paid by the heir of a tenant upon the death of the ancestor.
- Permission for a player to move their ball to a more convenient spot before taking a shot, under certain circumstances.
- Ellipsis of relief teacher Do we have a relief for maths today?
relief²
- /rɪˈliːf/
Rhymes with -iːf
Where it comes from
From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).
noun reliefs
- A method of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.
-
A sculpture or other artwork made with such a method.
Similar: embossing
- The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color.
-
The difference of elevations on a surface.
the relief on that part of the Earth's surface
Similar: texture, topography
- Relative distinctness, perceived difference due to contrast. And is it that the haze of grief Hath stretch’d my former joy so great? The lowness of the present state, That sets the past in this relief?
- The supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides.
adjective more relief · most relief
- Characterized by surface inequalities.
- Of or used in letterpress.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: alleviation, easing, assuagement, respite, ease, moderation, rest, succor, succour, fill-in, substitute, backup, ministration, stand-in, embossment, rilievo
Translations
Every language
noun removal of stress or discomfort
| Español | alivio, desahogo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 제고 jego, 안심 ansim |
| 日本語 | 安心 anshin, 救済 kyūsai |
| 中文 | 解除 jiěchú, 安心 ānxīn, 救濟 /救济 jiùjì |
| Kiswahili | faraja |
| Português | alívio |
| Français | soulagement, allégement |
| Deutsch | Erleichterung, Entlastung |
| Italiano | sollievo |
| Ελληνικά | ανακούφιση anakoúfisi |
| Română | ușurare, alinare |
| Русский | облегче́ние oblexčénije |
| العربية | رَاحَة rāḥa, تَخْفِيف taḵfīf |
| עברית | הקלה hakala |
noun feeling associated with removal of stress or discomfort
| Español | aliviane |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 安心 anshin, 安心感 anshin kan |
| Français | soulagement |
| Deutsch | Erleichterung |
| Italiano | sollievo |
| Ελληνικά | ανακούφιση anakoúfisi |
noun release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another
| Español | relevación |
|---|---|
| Français | relève |
noun person who takes over a shift
| Español | relevo, remuda |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 交代者 kōtaisha |
| Français | relève |
| Deutsch | Ablösung |
| Italiano | sostituto, cambio |
noun humanitarian aid or assistance
| Español | ayuda humanitaria, auxilio, asistencia |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 救済 kyūsai, 救援 kyūen |
| Kiswahili | faraja |
| Português | auxílio, assistência humanitária |
| Deutsch | Hilfe, Unterstützung, Beistand |
| Italiano | assistenza, soccorso, aiuto |
| Română | asistență umanitară, ajutor umanitar |
noun military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement
| Deutsch | Entsatz |
|---|
noun type of artwork
| Español | relieve |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 부조 bujo |
| 日本語 | 浮き彫り ukibori, リリーフ rirīfu, レリーフ rerīfu |
| 中文 | 浮雕 fúdiāo |
| Português | relevo |
| Français | relief |
| Deutsch | Relief |
| Italiano | rilievo, bassorilievo |
| Ελληνικά | ανάγλυφο anáglyfo |
| Română | relief, basorelief, altorelief |
| Русский | релье́ф relʹjéf, барелье́ф barelʹjéf |
| Tiếng Việt | рhù điêu |
| العربية | نَقْش نَافِر naqš nāfir |
| עברית | תבליט tavlit |
Talk about this word "relief." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/relief. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. relief. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/relief "relief." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/relief.Cite this
@misc{relief_2026,
title = {relief},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/relief},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
