Definitions and Meaning in English
- Relieved (adjective): Feeling reassured, comforted, or freed from stress, worry, or discomfort, often after a difficult situation or when a burden is lifted.
- Relieved (verb): The past tense of “relieve,” meaning to alleviate pain, distress, or worry, or to release someone from a difficult situation.
History and Origin
- The word “relieved” comes from the Latin relevare, meaning “to lift up” or “to alleviate.” The term evolved in Middle English as relieven, meaning to ease or lessen a burden. Over time, the meaning expanded to refer to a sense of emotional or physical comfort when stress or worry is alleviated.
Detailed Explanation
- Emotional relief: When someone feels relieved, they experience a reduction in stress or anxiety. This might happen after an event resolves favorably, such as passing an exam or receiving good news.
- Physical relief: Relief can also refer to physical comfort, such as when pain or discomfort is alleviated after medical treatment or rest.
- Relief from responsibility: Relief can also occur when a person is freed from a challenging responsibility or task, such as when a colleague takes over an overwhelming project.
Example Sentences
- She felt relieved after hearing that her family was safe.
- I was relieved to find my lost keys in the drawer.
- After the long meeting, they were all relieved to finally go home.
- The doctor’s reassurance made him feel relieved about his condition.
- The news that the storm had passed left the residents feeling relieved.
- She sighed with relief when the test results came back negative.
- He was relieved to see that the car accident wasn’t serious.
- After completing the challenging project, the team felt relieved.
- The medication provided immediate relief from his headache.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- Comforted: Feeling soothed or consoled, typically after experiencing distress or hardship.
- Alleviated: To make something less severe or burdensome, such as easing pain or worry.
- Reassured: To feel a sense of comfort and confidence after receiving positive or calming information.
- Soothed: To be calmed or pacified, especially after emotional turmoil or physical pain.
- Relaxed: To feel less tense or anxious, often as a result of something easing stress or worry.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Ease: The absence of difficulty or discomfort, often used in relation to emotional or physical relief.
- Comfort: A state of physical or emotional ease and freedom from pain or distress.
- Release: The act of letting go of something that causes stress or discomfort, often resulting in relief.
- Sigh: An audible exhalation, often associated with relief or a sense of release.
- Calm: A state of peace or tranquility, often experienced after relief from anxiety or stress.
More Matches with Short Explanation
- Reliever: A person or thing that provides relief, such as a pain reliever.
- Reprieve: A temporary delay or alleviation of something unpleasant, often used in legal or stressful contexts.
- Break: A short period of rest or respite from work or stress, providing relief.
- Exhale: To breathe out, often in a sign of relief after holding one’s breath due to anxiety.
- Relieved expression: A facial or body expression showing comfort and relaxation after stress is alleviated.
Antonyms
- Stressed: Experiencing anxiety, worry, or pressure, the opposite of feeling relieved.
- Anxious: Experiencing nervousness or unease, contrary to the comfort of relief.
- Burdened: Weighed down by responsibility, worry, or hardship, the opposite of being relieved.
- Distressed: In a state of suffering, anxiety, or discomfort, the opposite of feeling relief.
- Uneasy: Feeling unsettled or nervous, the opposite of the calm feeling associated with relief.