relieve

re|lieve

S3 [rıˈli:v] v [T]

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1¦(pain)¦

2¦(problem)¦

3¦(replace somebody)¦

4 relieve yourself

5¦(boring)¦

6¦(war)¦

Phrasal verbs

　relieve somebody of something

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: relever 'to raise, relieve', from Latin relevare, from levare 'to raise']

1.) ¦(PAIN)¦

to reduce someone's pain or unpleasant feelings

→↑relief

▪ Drugs helped to relieve the pain.

relieve tension/pressure/stress etc

▪ Some people eat for comfort, to relieve their anxieties.

2.) ¦(PROBLEM)¦

to make a problem less difficult or serious

▪ programs aimed at relieving unemployment

3.) ¦(REPLACE SOMEBODY)¦

to replace someone when they have completed their duty or when they need a rest

▪ The guard will be relieved at midnight.

4.) relieve yourself

a polite expression meaning to ↑urinate - often used humorously

5.) ¦(BORING)¦

to make something less dull and boring

▪ a plain wall relieved by flecks of blue and yellow

relieve the boredom/monotony

▪ The books helped relieve the boredom of waiting.

6.) ¦(WAR)¦

formal to free a town which an enemy has surrounded

relieve of [relieve sb of sth] phr v

1.) formal to help someone by taking something from them, especially a job they do not want to do or something heavy that they are carrying

▪ A secretary was hired to relieve her of some of the administrative work.

▪ He rose and relieved her of her bags.

2.) relieve sb of their post/duties/command etc

formal to take away someone's job because they have done something wrong

▪ After the defeat General Meyer was relieved of his command.

3.) to steal something from someone - used humorously

▪ A couple of guys relieved him of his wallet.