- relief
- re|lief [ rı`lif ] noun ***▸ 1 relaxed happy feeling▸ 2 reduction of pain etc.▸ 3 something given to someone in need▸ 4 something with raised surface▸ 5 right not to pay in full▸ 6 replacement worker▸ 7 military help▸ 8 rest from something difficult▸ + PHRASES1. ) singular or uncount a relaxed happy feeling you get because something bad has not happened or a bad situation has ended:It's a huge relief to know that everyone is safe.breathe/heave a sigh of relief (=feel much happier and more relaxed): We breathed a sigh of relief when Gustav went home.to someone's relief: To her relief, someone had found the keys and turned them in.2. ) uncount the reduction of pain or the effects of an illness:It's a drug commonly prescribed for pain relief.relief from: The patients experienced no relief from their symptoms.3. ) uncount food, clothes, and money given to people who are in urgent need of help, for example because of a war or other bad situation:flood/disaster/earthquake reliefa shipment of relief supplies bound for the Sudana ) count or uncount OLD-FASHIONED money given by the government to help people who are poor, old, or unable to work4. ) count a design or SCULPTURE consisting of a raised surface on a flat backgrounda ) in relief sticking out above a flat background:in high/low relief (=sticking out a lot/a little): The images of the children are carved in high relief.5. ) uncount the right to not have to pay the full amount of tax or interest on an amount of money6. ) singular a person or group that replaces another person or group that is away from their job or has finished a period of dutya ) only before noun relating to someone who temporarily replaces another person in their job:the relief crew7. ) uncount military help for an army or place that is being attacked or surrounded8. ) singular or uncount a temporary improvement in or rest from a situation that is difficult or boring, or something that provides this:The storms continued all night, and the next morning brought no relief.welcome/much-needed relief: Last night's unexpected win will bring much-needed relief to the team's coach.light relief (=something enjoyable in a generally serious situation): a little light relief in an otherwise dull programput/throw something into (sharp/stark) reliefto make something very obvious:The episode throws into sharp relief the enormous cultural divide between these two communities.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.