1. The feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
   "as he heard the news he was suddenly flooded with relief";
   - alleviation, assuagement
    
2. The condition of being comfortable or relieved (especially after being relieved of distress)
   "he enjoyed his relief from responsibility";
   - ease
    
3. The act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance)
   "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain"; "The easing of the congestion brought relief to commuters"; "The easement of the congestion brought relief to commuters";
   - easing, easement, alleviation
    
4. A change for the better
   "The easing of trade restrictions brought relief to many businesses"; "The moderation of trade restrictions brought relief to many businesses";
   - easing, moderation
    
5. Assistance in time of difficulty
   "the contributions provided some relief for the victims";
   - succor [US], succour [Brit, Cdn], ministration
    
6. Aid for the aged, indigent or handicapped
   "he has been on relief for many years"
    
7. A pause for relaxation
   "The hikers took a brief relief at the halfway point";
   - respite, rest, rest period
    
8. Someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
   "The relief worker took over for the exhausted firefighter";
   - stand-in, substitute, reliever, backup, fill-in
    
9. Sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background
   "The ancient temple walls were covered in intricate relief";
   - relievo, rilievo, embossment, sculptural relief
    
10. (law) redress awarded by a court
    "was the relief supposed to be protection from future harm or compensation for past injury?"
     
11. The act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged
    "he asked for troops for the relief of Atlanta"
     
12. (geography) the height structure of the earth's surface
    "The map showed the relief of the mountainous region"
     
13. The difference made noticeable by a variation in height, light or colour
    "The black text stood out in relief against the white page"

Derived forms: reliefs

Type of: aid, alteration, amends, assist, assistance, break, change, comfort, comfortableness, compeer, damages, decrease, diminution, equal, freeing, help, indemnification, indemnity, intermission, interruption, liberation, match, modification, pause, peer, public assistance, redress, redressal [Asia], reduction, release, restitution, sculpture, social welfare, step-down, suspension, welfare

Encyclopedia: Relief, North Carolina