What does "relief" mean?
The removal of stress or discomfort.
Relief
/ɹɪˈliːf/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The removal of stress or discomfort.
- Grammar: relief is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: sculptural relief, abatement, adc, agent.
- Useful contrasts: catalan tensió, deep sadness, french tension.
- Usage evidence: You have to raise funds for the relief work.
How to use "relief"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "relief" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "relief" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "relief" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "relief" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "relief" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sculptural relief" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "relief", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The removal of stress or discomfort. countable, uncountable
"I sighed with relief when I found out that my daughter hadn't got lost, but was waiting for me at home."
- 2 A method of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background. uncountable
- 3 the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance) wordnet
- 4 The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort. countable, uncountable
"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,[…].”"
- 5 A sculpture or other artwork made with such a method. countable
Show 23 more definitions
- 6 the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged wordnet
- 7 Release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another. countable, uncountable
- 8 The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color. countable, uncountable
- 9 aid for the aged or indigent or handicapped wordnet
- 10 The person who takes over a shift for another. countable, uncountable
"Officer Schmidt can finally go home because his relief has arrived."
- 11 The difference of elevations on a surface. countable, uncountable
"the relief on that part of the Earth's surface"
- 12 assistance in time of difficulty wordnet
- 13 Aid or assistance offered in time of need. countable, uncountable
"Relief arrived quickly after the disaster."
- 14 Relative distinctness, perceived difference due to contrast. countable, uncountable
"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?"
- 15 sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background wordnet
- 16 Military assistance to break a siege or an encirclement. countable, uncountable
- 17 The supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides. countable, uncountable
- 18 a change for the better wordnet
- 19 Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress. countable, uncountable
- 20 the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced wordnet
- 21 A lowering of a tax through special provisions; tax relief. countable, uncountable
- 22 someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult) wordnet
- 23 A certain fine or composition paid by the heir of a tenant upon the death of the ancestor. countable, uncountable
- 24 (law) redress awarded by a court wordnet
- 25 Permission for a player to move their ball to a more convenient spot before taking a shot, under certain circumstances. countable, uncountable
- 26 the condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress) wordnet
- 27 Ellipsis of relief teacher. Australia, New-Zealand, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"Do we have a relief for maths today?"
- 28 a pause for relaxation wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Characterized by surface inequalities.
- 2 Of or used in letterpress.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
catalan tensiódeep sadnessfrench tensionpsychological pressure
Example
"You have to raise funds for the relief work."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "relief"?
Common synonyms include: sculptural relief, abatement, adc, agent, aid, aid and comfort.
How do you use "relief" in a sentence?
You have to raise funds for the relief work.
How do you pronounce "relief"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈliːf/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”). See also relieve.
Etymology 2
From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).