relieve
- v. 减轻, 缓解
- v. 换班
- Definition
- v. to make pain or a problem less severe
- v. to take over a duty from someone
- Example
- Taking a hot bath helped relieve the tension in her shoulders.
- 洗个热水澡有助于缓解她肩膀的紧张。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to make something less severe (verb).
比较义项：减轻，使程度减弱（动词）。
- relieve 本词
The broadest and most neutral of the three; used for physical pain, pressure, stress or problems in general, without implying gradualness.
三者中语域最广、最中性的词，可用于身体疼痛、压力或各种问题，不强调渐进过程。
The new medication quickly relieved the swelling and pain in her ankle.
这种新药很快减轻了她脚踝的肿胀和疼痛。
- ease
Suggests a gradual lessening that makes something more comfortable or bearable, not necessarily removed; strong fixed collocations with restrictions, burdens or pressure.
强调逐渐减轻，使情况更舒适或更易承受，而不一定彻底消除；常与“限制”“负担”“压力”等固定搭配。
The airline eased its baggage restrictions for the holiday season.
这家航空公司在假期放宽了行李限制。
- allay
Formal and narrow in use; almost always paired with fears, doubts, worries or suspicions rather than physical pain, and means to calm a mental or emotional state.
用法正式且范围较窄，几乎只与恐惧、疑虑、担忧等心理状态搭配，而非身体疼痛，强调平息情绪或想法。
The spokesperson's statement helped allay doubts about the company's finances.
发言人的声明帮助平息了人们对公司财务状况的疑虑。
Relieve, ease, and allay all mean to make something bad less severe. Relieve is broadest, used for pain, stress, or problems. Ease suggests a gradual lessening. Allay is formal, used with fears or doubts, not pain. Other meanings of relieve and ease are not compared.
这三个词都表示使某种不良状态减轻，但语域和搭配不同：relieve 用法最广，可指身体疼痛、压力或各种问题；ease 强调逐渐使情况更舒缓、更容易承受，常与限制、负担等搭配；allay 较为正式，几乎只用于恐惧、疑虑等心理感受，不用于身体疼痛。这里不比较 relieve 的“换班”义，也不比较 ease 作副词短语“with ease”（轻松地）的用法。