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relief

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ɹiˈɫif// UK //ɹɪlˈiːf// re·lief General-service Informal

n. the good feeling you have when something painful or worrying stops. It is like taking a deep breath after a stressful situation is over.

n. a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following the release from anxiety or distress. Often functions as the head of a prepositional phrase with 'of'.


SIMPLE

It was a huge relief to hear that everyone was safe.

CONTEXTUAL

The rain brought much-needed relief to the farmers after three weeks of record-breaking heat and dry soil.

COMPLEX

While the immediate relief of the ceasefire was palpable among the civilian population, the underlying tensions that had sparked the conflict remained largely unaddressed by the new treaty.

Synonyms
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”).

Usage

Frequently paired with the preposition 'of' or followed by an infinitive clause ('relief to find').

Idioms2 entries

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