Alleviate
/əˈliːvieɪt/
verbIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To lessen the intensity of something unpleasant or painful.
/əˈliːvieɪt/
verbpositiveIntermediate
General
To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
The doctor prescribed medicine to alleviate her symptoms.
💡 Simply: To make something better or easier.
More Examples
2
The new policy alleviated some of the financial burden.
How It's Used
Medical
"The medication helped to alleviate his pain."
Social Work
"The program aims to alleviate poverty in the community."
From Latin *alleviare, from ad- "to" + levis "light", meaning "to make light."
The word has been used in similar contexts since the 15th century, consistently referring to the easing of burdens or suffering.
Memory tip
Think of 'al-levi-ate' as 'making something lighter' (levis = light in Latin).
Practice
Base: alleviate
alieviateallevieateallieviate
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written