relief
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the happy or relaxed feeling you have when something unpleasant stops or does not happen.
n.the feeling of reassurance or relaxation following the release from anxiety, pain, or distress.
Simple“It was a huge relief to hear that everyone was safe after the storm.”
In context“She breathed a profound sigh of relief when the test results finally arrived, confirming that the tumor was benign and no further surgery was required.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the act of making pain or a problem less severe.
n.the alleviation or removal of a physical or mental burden, such as pain or financial debt.
Simple“This new medicine provides quick relief from muscle aches.”
In context“The government proposed a series of measures aimed at providing immediate debt relief to small businesses struggling in the current economic climate.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.food, money, or help given to people who are in a very bad situation, like a war or natural disaster.
n.assistance, especially in the form of food, clothing, or medical supplies, provided to those in urgent need or experiencing a disaster.
Simple“Charities are sending emergency relief to the victims of the earthquake.”
In context“International relief agencies struggled to coordinate the delivery of supplies to the remote mountainous regions affected by the flooding.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who takes over someone else's work or shift so they can rest.
n.a person or group that replaces another on duty; the act of taking over a shift or post.
Simple“The night nurse waited for her relief to arrive before she went home.”
In context“The weary sentry scanned the horizon, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his relief so he could finally return to the barracks for sleep.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.a type of art where the shapes stick out from a flat background.
n.a sculptural technique where the figures or design elements are raised above the background plane.
Simple“The ancient stone walls were decorated with beautiful carvings in relief.”
In context“The bronze doors featured intricate scenes from classical mythology cast in high relief, creating deep shadows that added to the dramatic effect.”
Synonymsprojectionembossment - 06 C1 Advanced
n.help or protection given by a court of law.
n.legal redress or assistance granted by a court, such as an injunction or compensation.
Simple“The company is seeking legal relief to stop the competitor from using its logo.”
In context“The plaintiffs sought injunctive relief to prevent the developer from proceeding with the construction until a full environmental impact study was completed.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing someone who does a job when the usual person is away.
adj.serving as a temporary substitute for another professional, particularly in education or healthcare.
Simple“The school had to hire a relief teacher for the week.”
In context“The hospital relies heavily on relief staff during the winter months when permanent employees are frequently absent due to illness.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun.
Teacher's tipCommonly used in Australia and New Zealand as 'relief teacher'; in the UK, 'supply teacher' is more frequent.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage relief efforts
“Garnett is nervous, clearly but apologetically asking for pain relief – “I’m not wimpy but this I find so painful” – but is swept through with none.”
“Air-conditioned public buildings such as libraries, leisure centres and shopping centres can also provide relief if your home is too hot.”
From Old French relief (“assistance”), from Old French relever (“to relieve”), from Latin relevare (“to raise up, make light”). See also relieve.
From Italian rilievo, from rilevare (“to raise”), from Latin relevō (“to raise”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.