What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
relieve
Example
The medicine helped relieve my headache. [relieve: verb]
Example
I was relieved of my duties for the day. [relieved: past participle]
Example
The charity organization aims to relieve poverty in the community. [relieve: verb]
ease
Example
The new software will ease the process of data entry. [ease: verb]
Example
She eased into the comfortable armchair and sighed. [eased: past tense]
Example
The warm bath provided some ease to his sore muscles. [ease: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ease is more commonly used than relieve in everyday language. Ease is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while relieve is more specific and tends to be used in more urgent or serious situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between relieve and ease?
Both relieve and ease can be used in formal and informal contexts, but relieve may be perceived as more formal due to its association with medical or emergency situations.