relief

Everyday

1. The happy, calm feeling when something bad or worrying stops or doesn't happen. tree →
2. Making pain or worry less: pain relief. tree →
3. Help such as food, money or shelter for people in trouble: disaster relief. tree →
4. A person who takes over someone's work: a relief driver. tree →
5. (geography, art) The ups and downs of land shown on a map; a carving that stands out from a flat surface. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, a sigh of relief shows a character's fear is over. In geography, a relief map shows hills and valleys. In news, relief aid after floods. Phrases: what a relief, sigh of relief, pain relief, relief aid.

Examples

• What a relief that the test was easy! tree →
• She breathed a sigh of relief. tree →
• The medicine gave quick pain relief. tree →
• Relief workers brought water to the flood victims. tree →
• A relief teacher took our class today. tree →
• The relief map shows the mountains in brown. tree →
• The relief from pain and hunger made me drowsy, and presently I fell asleep. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable, but «a relief» for one feeling. Verb: relieve; adjective: relieved. Spelling: i before e: relief. «Relieve yourself» is a euphemism for going to the toilet.

In Jewish tradition

Release from trouble, suffering or waiting; in Job it is the hoped-for end of a hard time.

Interpretation. Commentators read Job's longing for relief as hope that God will remember him, and some link it to the hope of renewal after death.

Examples

• All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come — (Writings JOB.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer. (Writings JOB.32.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually uncountable, but «a relief» for one feeling. Verb: relieve; adjective: relieved. Spelling: i before e: relief. «Relieve yourself» is a euphemism for going to the toilet.