relieve

relieve
re‧lieve S3 /rɪˈliːv/ verb [transitive]1.  PAIN to reduce someone’s pain or unpleasant feelings ⇨ relief:
    Drugs helped to relieve the pain.
    relieve tension/pressure/stress etc
    Some people eat for comfort, to relieve their anxieties.
2.  PROBLEM to make a problem less difficult or serious:
    programs aimed at relieving unemployment
3.  REPLACE SOMEBODY to replace someone when they have completed their duty or when they need a rest:
    The guard will be relieved at midnight.
4. relieve yourself a polite expression meaning to urinate – often used humorously
5.  BORING to make something less dull and boring:
    a plain wall relieved by flecks of blue and yellow
    relieve the boredom/monotony
    The books helped relieve the boredom of waiting.
6.  WAR formal to free a town which an enemy has surrounded
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ relieve pain What’s the best way of relieving back pain?
   ▪ relieve symptoms Drinking a pint of water should help to relieve the symptoms.
   ▪ relieve tension They all laughed and it helped to relieve the tension.
   ▪ relieve stress Don’t resort to alcohol to relieve your stress.
   ▪ relieve anxiety We offer patients a gentle massage to help relieve anxiety.
   ▪ relieve pressure Doctors should have inserted a needle into the lungs to relieve the pressure.
     
relieve somebody of something phrasal verb
  1. formal to help someone by taking something from them, especially a job they do not want to do or something heavy that they are carrying:
    A secretary was hired to relieve her of some of the administrative work.
    He rose and relieved her of her bags.
  2. relieve somebody of their post/duties/command etc formal to take away someone’s job because they have done something wrong:
    After the defeat General Meyer was relieved of his command.
  3. to steal something from someone – used humorously:
    A couple of guys relieved him of his wallet.