Alleviate
/əˈliːvieɪt/
verbB2
Definition
To alleviate something means to make it easier to bear or less severe. This word is often used when talking about pain, stress, or problems. For example, medicine can alleviate pain, or talking to a friend can alleviate sadness.
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See It in Action
To reduce pain or suffering
- •The doctor gave her medicine to alleviate the pain.
- •Cold water can alleviate the burning feeling on the skin.
- •Taking deep breaths can help alleviate stress.
To lessen problems or difficulties
- •The government introduced new laws to alleviate traffic congestion.
- •Volunteers worked to alleviate poverty in the community.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "alleviate" like "help," but specifically to make a problem or pain less strong, not to fix it completely.
- ✓Picture a heavy backpack that feels lighter after you take out some books—that is like alleviating the weight.
- ✓It's the feeling of relief when a headache becomes less painful after taking medicine.
- ✓Sounds like "a-LEAVE-ee-ate" → imagine leaving some of the pain behind, making it easier to carry.
- ✓Think of a nurse giving medicine to make a patient feel better but not curing the illness fully.
- ✓NOT like "cure" (which means to completely remove a problem), "alleviate" only makes the problem less bad.
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means to pay no attention), "alleviate" means to actively reduce the problem.
- ✓NOT like "solve" (which means to fix completely), "alleviate" is to reduce the difficulty or pain.
Try Other Words
- •Reduce: to make something smaller or less (Use when the focus is on making the amount or size smaller)
- •Ease: to make something less difficult or painful (Use when talking about comfort or lessening pain)
- •Relieve: to remove or reduce pain or stress (Use when you want to emphasize removing pressure or pain)
- •Lessen: to make something less in degree or amount (Use for general decrease in problems or feelings)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "al-" (variant of "ad-", meaning to or toward) + root "levi" (from Latin "levis" meaning light) + suffix "-ate" (to make or cause)
- •Etymology: From Latin "alleviare," meaning to lighten or make lighter
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 15th century to describe making burdens lighter or reducing pain
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in medical, social, and emotional contexts to describe reducing pain, problems, or difficulties
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when something helped alleviate your stress or worry? What was it?
•How is alleviating a problem different from solving it completely? Why might it be important to recognize this difference?
Fill in the blanks
1.The doctor prescribed medicine to alleviate ___ caused by the injury.
2.Volunteers work hard to alleviate ___ in poor communities by providing food and shelter.
3.Unlike curing a disease, alleviating symptoms means to make them ___ but not remove them.
4.She took a walk to alleviate her ___ after a long day at work.
5.To alleviate traffic jams, the city built new roads and improved public ___.
6.When you feel pain, taking a break can help alleviate ___ and make you feel better.
7.The government’s plan aims to alleviate economic ___ but not solve all problems immediately.