re‧lieve S3 / rɪliv / 动词 [及物动词]

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

COLLOCATIONS

名词

relieve pain What’s the best way of relieving back pain?

relieve symptoms Drinking a pint of water should help to relieve the symptoms.

relieve tension They all laughed and it helped to relieve the tension.

relieve stress Don’t resort to alcohol to relieve your stress.

relieve anxiety We offer patients a gentle massage to help relieve anxiety.

relieve pressure Doctors should have inserted a needle into the lungs to relieve the pressure.

relieve somebody of something 短语动词

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 somebody 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.