- relief */*/*/
- UK [rɪˈliːf] / US [rɪˈlɪf]
noun
Word forms "relief":
singular relief plural reliefs1) [singular/uncountable] a relaxed happy feeling that you get because something bad has not happened or a bad situation has endedto someone's relief:It's a huge relief to know that everyone is safe.
To her relief, someone had found the keys and handed them in.
2) [uncountable] the reduction of pain or the effects of an illnessrelief from:It's a drug commonly prescribed for pain relief.
The patients experienced no relief from their symptoms.
3) [uncountable] food, clothes, and money given to people who are in urgent need of help, for example because of a war or other bad situationflood/disaster/earthquake relief
a shipment of relief supplies bound for the Sudan
4) [countable] art a design or sculpture consisting of a raised surface on a flat background5) [uncountable] the right not to have to pay the full amount of tax or interest on an amount of money6)a) [singular] a person or group that replaces another person or group that is away from their job or has finished a period of dutyb) [only before noun] relating to a person or group that temporarily replaces another person or group in their jobthe relief crew
7) [uncountable] military help for an army or place that is being attacked or surrounded8) [singular/uncountable] a temporary improvement in or rest from a situation that is difficult or boring, or something that provides thiswelcome/much-needed relief:The storms continued all night, and the next morning brought no relief.
Last night's unexpected win will bring much-needed relief to the team's manager.
See:•put/throw something into (sharp/stark) relief
— to make something very obviousThe episode throws into sharp relief the enormous cultural divide between these two communities.
English dictionary. 2014.