Word
relish
Phoneticsrel·ish, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛɫɪʃ/
UK/ɹˈɛlɪʃ/
Definition
v. to enjoy something very much. You use this when you want to show that you are looking forward to an experience or getting great pleasure from it.
v. to derive great enjoyment or satisfaction from an experience or prospect. Often implies a slow, conscious appreciation of the details of the activity.
Examples
“I relish the challenge of learning a new language.”
“She does not relish the prospect of telling her manager about the mistake.”
“A seasoned litigator might relish the opportunity to cross-examine such a high-profile witness, viewing the high stakes as a chance to demonstrate professional mastery.”
Examples
simple
“I relish the challenge of learning a new language.”
contextual
“She does not relish the prospect of telling her manager about the mistake.”
complex
“A seasoned litigator might relish the opportunity to cross-examine such a high-profile witness, viewing the high stakes as a chance to demonstrate professional mastery.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, often a gerund or a noun phrase.
Pitfall
I relish to go there
I relish going there
When followed by another action, this verb requires the -ing form (gerund) rather than the infinitive.
Real-World Examples
“The platform may have been even greater at the World Cup, but the unfazed teenager has relished competing against older players for much of his life.” “Throughout, Dudamel relished the slow blossoming of tutti passages, easing into them after energetic surges forward.” Etymology
The noun is a variant of release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”), probably from Anglo-Norman reles, relais, or Old French reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”), from relaisser, relaschier (“to liberate, release; to relax”) (modern French relâcher), from Latin relaxāre, the present active infinitive of relaxō (“to stretch out or widen again, loosen, slacken; (figurative) to ease, relax”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + laxō (“to release, undo; to relax”) (from laxus (“spacious, wide; loose, slack”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg- (“to slacken; to tire out”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). Doublet of release. The verb is derived from the noun.
The noun is derived from Late Middle English relese (“projection of a wall”), probably from Middle French relais or Old French relais (“projection of masonry at the base of a wall”), a specific use of reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”): see further at etymology 1. Doublet of release. The verb is derived from the noun.
The noun is probably derived partly: * from release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”); and * from relish (“one’s liking or taste for something”). See further at etymology 1. The verb is probably derived from the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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