relief

Definition

  • noun: a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen
  • noun: a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate
  • often used before another noun
  • synonyms: adc, cysp sculpture, medicaid

Examples

  • Her political activism throws the apathy of others into sharp 'relief'. [=makes the apathy of others very noticeable]

  • His character provides a little 'comic relief' in what is otherwise a very serious and dramatic movie.

  • Just one day of sunshine would be a welcome 'relief' from the rainy weather we've been having lately.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) Sorry! Buckley? Are you okay? You're okay. Oh, my baby. My baby. And I remember the light in my parents' eyes, the relief. It was my fault. It will not happen again. those unlucky people to whom bad things happen for no reason. You know, the Buddhists say if you save someone else's life... (..)
    2009 The Lovely Bones