26984 words

relief

12 definitions • 27 examples
1
a feeling of happiness that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] It was such a relief to hear that Marta was found safe and well.
sense of relief After the exam, I felt an incredible sense of relief.
that is a relief "James can't come tonight." "Well, that's a relief!"
relief from to seek/find/provide relief from the heat/cold/pain/noise
2
food, money, or services that provide help for people in need:

Examples:

relief agency We work directly with relief agencies to help those in need.
relief supplies Relief supplies have been airlifted to the earthquake-stricken region.
famine relief Musicians have raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa.
3
In baseball, if a pitcher (= a player who throws the ball) pitches in relief or pitches a number of innings of relief, they join the game and throw the ball after another pitcher has left the game:

Examples:

pitch in relief He has never pitched in relief in his entire career.
inning of relief Lowe pitched three innings of relief.
4
a method of raising shapes above a flat surface so that they appear to stand out slightly from it:

Examples:

in relief Coins have pictures on them in relief.
5
a sculpture made from a flat surface in which the forms are raised above the surface:

Examples:

stone reliefs
6
a feeling of happiness that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended:

Examples:

She breathed a sigh of relief when she finished her exams.
7
Relief also means the reduction or end of pain:

Examples:

Aspirin may give you some relief.
8
food, money, or services for people in need:

Examples:

disaster relief
9
the building up of parts of a surface to form a picture or design that can be seen above the background, or a work of art made by this method:

Examples:

[ C ] the reliefs of the Parthenon
10
financial help that is given to people, companies, or countries that cannot pay their taxes or debts:

Examples:

All of the more than 3 million people who file income taxes in Virginia will be eligible for the $100 relief when they file their returns for the last fiscal year.
Congress must reach consensus quickly on the issue of economic relief for the airline industry.
Satellite-television subscribers should get relief from some of the taxes on their monthly bills under new legislation.
give/offer/provide relief (to sb) Tax-cut proposals could offer relief to homeowners
get/obtain relief (from sth) Because of the Fed's move to cut interest rates, people whose mortgages are adjusting may get some relief.
11
financial help that the government gives to people who are poor, unemployed, etc.:

Examples:

grant/give/provide relief (to sb) Lawmakers are being lobbied by pressure groups, urging them to grant additional relief to seniors.
12
money, food, and clothing that is sent to people who are in a difficult situation because of a war, flood, very bad storm, etc.:

Examples:

How can we be sure that relief will help those who are most in need?
In the last five days we have undertaken a massive relief effort to bring water, medicine, and food to the refugees.

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