Word
alleviate
Phoneticsal·le·vi·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈɫiviˌeɪt/
UK/ɐlˈiːvɪˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to reduce pain or difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make something like pain or a problem less severe or easier to bear.
v. to make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the burden being eased.
“The new medicine helped to alleviate her back pain within minutes.”
“The government introduced several new measures designed to alleviate the housing shortage in the city's most crowded districts.”
Usage
Commonly collocates with 'pain', 'suffering', 'poverty', or 'symptoms'.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'solve'. Alleviate means to make a bad situation better, not necessarily to fix it completely.
Antonyms
02to pay down debt
C1 · Advanced Finance Technical · Formal
v. to pay off part of a debt or loan.
v. to reduce the principal of a debt or financial obligation through partial payment.
“He used his year-end bonus to alleviate some of his student loan debt.”
“The restructuring plan allowed the corporation to alleviate its massive debt burden by selling off non-core assets.”
Usage
Used specifically in the context of reducing the total amount of a debt.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialised financial use; in everyday English, 'pay off' or 'reduce' is much more common.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “alleviate” in context.
Verb
01. alleviate problem
“The new government measures are designed to alleviate the problem of youth unemployment.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“With the Environment Agency suggesting we need "weeks of above average rainfall" to alleviate the drought situation, there is no sign of any major improvements in the immediate future.” “Alleviate and prevent common aches with these exercises.” Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviāre (“to lighten; to alleviate”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/alleviate