Definition of "relieve" in English

verb

1. (transitive) To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.

   • I was greatly relieved by the jury's verdict.

2. (transitive) To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.

3. (transitive) To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).

4. (transitive) To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).

5. (obsolete) To lift up; to raise again.

6. (now rare) To raise (someone) out of danger or from (a specified difficulty etc.).

7. (law) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to.

   • This shall not relieve either Party of any obligations.

8. (transitive) To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the siege on.

9. To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc.

10. (originally military) To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place.

11. (now rare) To make (something) stand out; to make prominent, bring into relief.

12. (reflexive, euphemistic) To urinate or defecate.

    • 1989, Snyder v. Harmon, 562 A.2d 307 (Pa. 1989) (Zappala, J., writing for the majority), Pennsylvania Supreme Court As they traveled along L.R. 33060, one of the passengers mentioned he had to relieve himself, so Barrett stopped the car along the berm of the road, which, unbeknown to the travelers, was directly adjacent to a strip mine.

13. (reflexive, euphemistic) To ease one's own desire to orgasm, often through masturbation to orgasm.