ADJ

considerable, deep, enormous, great, huge, immense, intense, overwhelming, tremendous
certain
The news of his appointment was received with a certain relief by most people
sheer
complete
temporary
The drugs only provided temporary relief from the pain
fast, immediate, instant
evident, obvious
She smiled with evident relief
blessed, welcome
pain
The injection gives complete pain relief

VERB + RELIEF

bring (sb), give (sb), offer (sb), provide (sb with)
Morning brought no relief from the heat
come as
The news came as a welcome relief to Brian
seek
She sought relief in drink
find, get
He found relief from his fears in a world of fantasy and art
experience, feel
I felt enormous relief once they phoned
sense
She could sense his relief when she said she wouldn't be leaving
express

RELIEF + VERB

come
He believes that relief only comes from helping others with their suffering
flood
Relief flooded through me as the aeroplane landed safely

PREP

in ~
She smiled in relief
out of ~
He hugged her out of sheer relief
to your ~
To my great relief, she didn't notice that anything was wrong
with ~
He sighed with relief
~ at
relief at not having been made a fool of
~ from
relief from hunger
~ to
The news was a huge relief to her

PHRASES

a cry/a sigh/tears of relief
He breathed a sigh of relief
a sense/wave of relief

ADJ

humanitarian
emergency
famine, flood
foreign, international

VERB + RELIEF

give sb, provide (sb with), send (sb)
The organization provides emergency famine relief

RELIEF + NOUN

work
She said that the fighting has halted almost all relief work in the area
effort, operation
There was a huge international relief effort to bring help to the stricken area
package, programme
Congress has agreed an $11 million relief package for victims of the hurricane
aid, supplies
agency, fund, organization
staff, worker
convoy, flight

ADJ

debt, interest, mortgage, tax

VERB + RELIEF

get, obtain, receive
You get mortgage relief of 10% on the next
£
5,000
be entitled to, qualify for
apply for, claim, seek

RELIEF + VERB

be available
No tax relief is available in respect of this loss

ADJ

light
comic

VERB + RELIEF

give (sb), provide (sb with)
The scene provided some comic relief for the audience

PREP

for ~
The comical characters are brought into the story for a little light relief

PHRASES

a moment of relief

ADJ

high
The scene has been carved in high relief
bas, low
carved, sculptured
alabaster, bronze, marble, plaster, stucco
classical, Greek, Roman

VERB + RELIEF

carve (sth) in

RELIEF + NOUN

carving, sculpture
panel

PREP

in ~
a sculpture in high relief

ADJ

sharp, stark

VERB + RELIEF

bring sth into, throw sth into (often figurative)
The proximity of the wealthy suburb to the squatter camp throws the plight of the squatters into even sharper relief
stand out in
The snow-capped mountains stood out in sharp relief against the blue sky