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relieve

[/rɪˈliːv/]
verb
aliviar
1. to make something less severe or burdensome; to reduce pain, suffering, or distress
The medication will relieve your headache.
O medicamento aliviará sua dor de cabeça.
2. to free someone from a duty or responsibility by taking their place
The night shift will relieve the day shift at 8 PM.
O turno da noite aliviará o turno do dia às 20h.
3. to make someone feel less anxious, worried, or tense
I was relieved to hear that everyone was safe.
Fiquei aliviado ao saber que todos estavam seguros.
4. to break the monotony or tedium of something
The music relieves the silence of the room.
A música alivia o silêncio da sala.
Synonyms
alleviateeasemitigatesoothecomfortreducediminish
Antonyms
worsenaggravateintensifyincrease

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
aliviar
most common form across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
aliviar
standard usage, sometimes 'tirar o peso'
São Paulo
aliviar
standard usage in business contexts
Portugal
aliviar
standard Portuguese usage; also 'relevar' in formal contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

relieve oneself (euphemism for using the toilet)
relieve someone of their duties (to remove someone from a position)
relieved of a burden (freed from something difficult)
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