# allay

/əˈɫeɪ/ (US) · /ɐlˈeɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allay
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

to make a negative feeling, like fear or worry, less strong. You use this when you want to calm someone down or make a problem seem less scary.

For teachers: to diminish or soothe a negative emotion, such as fear, suspicion, or concern. Often used in formal contexts to describe the reduction of public or personal anxiety.

## Examples

- The doctor's words helped allay her fears.
- The government released a detailed report to allay public concerns about the safety of the new water treatment plant.
- Despite the CEO's attempts to allay investor anxiety during the quarterly call, the stock price continued to fluctuate as market uncertainty remained high.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and typically takes abstract nouns representing negative emotions (fears, doubts, concerns) as its direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.