Release vs. Relieve — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 5, 2024
Release involves letting go or setting free, while relieve pertains to reducing or alleviating pain, stress, or burden.
Difference Between Release and Relieve
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Release typically refers to the act of setting something or someone free, as in releasing a prisoner from jail or releasing a new product to the public. On the other hand, relieve focuses on the alleviation of discomfort or distress, such as relieving pain or anxiety.
In a legal context, to release someone often means to legally free them from custody or obligations, such as a release from a contract. Whereas, to relieve someone in a similar context might mean to lessen their burdens, for example by relieving a co-signer from a loan obligation.
When talking about emotions, release is used to describe the act of expressing feelings that results in emotional liberation, like releasing anger through shouting. Conversely, relieve is used when talking about lessening emotional stress or mental burden, such as relieving stress through meditation.
In the medical field, to release might refer to the discharge of a patient from a hospital after recovery, or releasing a new drug into the market. Whereas, to relieve in medicine refers to the act of easing symptoms of a disease, such as relieving pain with medication.
Release can also refer to enabling a device to operate by activating a switch or lever, such as releasing a safety catch on a machine. In contrast, relieve does not commonly apply in a mechanical context, except in terms of reducing pressure or load, like relieving the pressure in a tank.
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Release can also involve the distribution of information or media, like releasing a press statement or a movie. Whereas, relieve does not typically apply to information dissemination, focusing more on the reduction of adverse conditions or feelings.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Set free or let go
Reduce or alleviate
Common Contexts
Legal, emotional, media
Medical, emotional, mechanical
Process
Ending confinement or withholding
Easing of discomfort or burden
Examples
Releasing a prisoner, launching a product
Relieving pain, reducing stress
Outcome
Freedom or availability
Comfort or mitigation of difficulty
Compare with Definitions
Release
To emit or discharge.
The factory released emissions into the atmosphere.
Relieve
To provide comfort in distress.
His kind words relieved her anxiety about the future.
Release
To relinquish a legal claim.
He signed a document to release all his claims on the property.
Relieve
To ease or alleviate pain, distress, or burden.
The medication quickly relieved her headache.
Release
To express emotions or energy.
She released her frustration by going for a long run.
Relieve
To mitigate a financial burden.
The grant relieved some of the financial stress faced by the small business.
Release
To allow to go free from confinement.
The zoo released the rehabilitated animals back into the wild.
Relieve
To lessen a load or weight.
They used more supports to relieve the pressure on the overburdened beam.
Release
To set free from confinement or bondage
Released the prisoner.
Relieve
To free someone from duty by providing a replacement.
The nurse arrived to relieve her colleague at the end of the shift.
Release
To set free from physical restraint or binding; let go
Released the balloons.
Released the brake.
Relieve
To cause a lessening or alleviation of
Relieved all his symptoms.
Relieved the tension.
Release
To cause or allow to move away or spread from a source or place of confinement
Cells that release histamine.
Relieve
To make less tedious, monotonous, or unpleasant
Only one small candle relieved the gloom.
Release
To make available for use
Released the funds for the project.
Relieve
To free from pain, anxiety, or distress
I was relieved by the news that they had arrived home safely.
Release
To set free from obligations, commitments, or debt
Released them from their contract.
Relieve
To furnish assistance or aid to
Relieve the flooded region.
Release
To issue for performance, sale, publication, or distribution
Release a new movie.
Relieve
To rescue from siege.
Release
To make known or available
Released the new study on the drug.
Relieve
To release (a person) from an obligation, restriction, or burden.
Release
(Law) To surrender (a right, claim, or title).
Relieve
To free from a specified duty by providing or acting as a substitute.
Release
Deliverance or liberation, as from confinement.
Relieve
(Baseball) To enter the game as a relief pitcher after (another pitcher).
Release
Discharge from an obligation or commitment.
Relieve
(Informal) To rob or deprive
Pickpockets relieved him of his money.
Release
Relief from suffering or care.
Relieve
(Archaic) To make prominent or effective by contrast; set off.
Release
An unfastening or letting go, as of something caught or held fast.
Relieve
(transitive) To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
I was greatly relieved by the jury's verdict.
Release
(Sports) The action of throwing a ball or propelling a puck
A quarterback with a quick release.
Relieve
(transitive) To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.
Release
(Linguistics) The movement of a vocal organ or organs so as to end the closure of a stop consonant.
Relieve
(transitive) To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).
Release
A device or catch for locking or releasing a mechanism.
Relieve
(transitive) To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).
Release
The act or an instance of issuing something for publication, use, or distribution.
Relieve
(obsolete) To lift up; to raise again.
Release
Something thus issued
A new release of a software program.
Relieve
To raise (someone) out of danger or from (a specified difficulty etc.).
Release
The condition of being available, in use, or in publication
A movie in wide release.
Relieve
(legal) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to.
This shall not relieve either Party of any obligations.
Release
The surrender of a right, title, or claim, especially to one against whom the right, title, or claim would be enforced or exercised.
Relieve
(transitive) To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the siege on.
Release
The document attesting to such surrender.
Relieve
To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc.
Release
The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
Relieve
To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place.
Release
(software) The distribution of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product; the distribution can be either public or private.
Relieve
To make (something) stand out; to make prominent, bring into relief.
Release
Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
The video store advertised that it had all the latest releases.
Relieve
To urinate or defecate.
Release
That which is released, untied or let go.
They marked the occasion with a release of butterflies.
Relieve
To ease one's own desire to orgasm, often through masturbation to orgasm.
Release
(legal) The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
Relieve
To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise.
Release
Liberation from pain or suffering.
Relieve
To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast.
Her tall figure relieved against the blue sky; seemed almost of supernatural height.
Release
(biochemistry) The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
Relieve
To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of.
The poet must . . . sometimes relieve the subject with a moral reflection.
Release
The act or manner of ending a sound.
Relieve
To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to relieve pain; to relieve the wants of the poor.
Release
In the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
Relieve
To free, wholly or partly, from any burden, trial, evil, distress, or the like; to give ease, comfort, or consolation to; to give aid, help, or succor to; to support, strengthen, or deliver; as, to relieve a besieged town.
Now lend assistance and relieve the poor.
Release
A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
Relieve
To release from a post, station, or duty; to put another in place of, or to take the place of, in the bearing of any burden, or discharge of any duty.
Who hath relieved you?
Release
A catch on a motor-starting rheostat, which automatically releases the rheostat arm and so stops the motor in case of a break in the field circuit.
Relieve
To ease of any imposition, burden, wrong, or oppression, by judicial or legislative interposition, as by the removal of a grievance, by indemnification for losses, or the like; to right.
Release
The catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, triggered in the event of an overload.
Relieve
Provide physical relief, as from pain;
This pill will relieve your headaches
Release
The lever or button on a camera that opens the shutter to allow a photograph to be taken
Relieve
Free someone temporarily from his or her obligations
Release
Orgasm.
She quivered in release
Relieve
Grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to;
She exempted me from the exam
Release
(music) A kind of bridge used in jazz music.
Relieve
Lessen the intensity of or calm;
The news eased my conscience
Still the fears
Release
To let go (of); to cease to hold or contain.
He released his grasp on the lever.
Relieve
Save from ruin, destruction, or harm
Release
To make available to the public.
They released the new product later than intended.
Relieve
Relieve oneself of troubling information
Release
To free or liberate; to set free.
He was released after two years in prison.
Relieve
Alleviate or remove;
Relieve the pressure and the stress
Release
To discharge.
They released thousands of gallons of water into the river each month.
Relieve
Provide relief for;
Remedy his illness
Release
(telephone) of a call To hang up.
If you continue to use abusive language, I will need to release the call.
Relieve
Free from a burden, evil, or distress
Release
(legal) To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.
Relieve
Take by stealing;
The thief relieved me of $100
Release
To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of.
Relieve
Grant exemption or release to;
Please excuse me from this class
Release
(soccer) To set up; to provide with a goal-scoring opportunity
Release
(biochemistry) To set free a chemical substance.
Release
(intransitive) to come out; be out.
When the game releases
The new model will release on ...
Release
(transitive) To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
Release
To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
Release
To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go.
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
Release
To relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses, as from pain, trouble, obligation, penalty.
Release
To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.
Release
To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of; as, to release an ordinance.
A sacred vow that none should aye release.
Release
The act of letting loose or freeing, or the state of being let loose or freed; liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage.
Release
Relief from care, pain, or any burden.
Release
Discharge from obligation or responsibility, as from debt, penalty, or claim of any kind; acquittance.
Release
A giving up or relinquishment of some right or claim; a conveyance of a man's right in lands or tenements to another who has some estate in possession; a quitclaim.
Release
The act of opening the exhaust port to allow the steam to escape.
Release
A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required;
Release
The act or manner of ending a sound.
Release
In the block-signaling system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
Release
Merchandise issued for sale or public showing (especially a record or film);
A new release from the London Symphony Orchestra
Release
The act of liberating someone or something
Release
A process that liberates or discharges something;
There was a sudden release of oxygen
The release of iodine from the thyroid gland
Release
An announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation
Release
The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Release
A legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation
Release
Activity that releases or expresses creative energy or emotion;
She had no other outlet for her feelings
He gave vent to his anger
Release
The act of allowing a fluid to escape
Release
A formal written statement of relinquishment
Release
(music) the act or manner of terminating a musical phrase or tone
Release
Release, as from one's grip;
Let go of the door handle, please!
Relinquish your grip on the rope--you won't fall
Release
Grant freedom to; free from confinement
Release
Let (something) fall or spill a container;
Turn the flour onto a plate
Release
Eliminate (substances) from the body
Release
Prepare and issue for public distribution or sale;
Publish a magazine or newspaper
Release
Make (information) available publication;
Release the list with the names of the prisoners
Release
Part with a possession or right;
I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest
Resign a claim to the throne
Common Curiosities
Can both terms apply in emotional contexts?
Yes, but release usually refers to expressing or letting go of emotions, while relieve refers to reducing emotional stress.
How does relieving stress differ from releasing stress?
Relieving stress refers to reducing stress levels through various methods, while releasing stress typically involves activities that allow for emotional expression or discharge.
How do release and relieve apply in a medical context?
Release in medicine can mean discharging a patient or launching a drug, while relieve typically refers to easing symptoms or pain.
Can release and relieve be used interchangeably in any context?
No, they cannot be used interchangeably as their meanings and applications differ significantly.
What is an example of relieve being used in a mechanical context?
Relieving pressure in a steam boiler by opening a relief valve.
Are there specific legal implications for release?
Yes, in legal contexts, release can mean the termination of a legal obligation, such as a contract or settlement.
What is the main difference between release and relieve?
Release is about setting free or letting go, while relieve is about reducing discomfort or alleviating burden.
What role does relieve play in humanitarian contexts?
In humanitarian efforts, relieve often pertains to providing aid to reduce suffering or hardship, such as food relief or medical assistance.
How is relieving someone from duty viewed in professional settings?
It is seen as a necessary part of shift work, ensuring continuity of service and rest for personnel.
What does it mean to release information?
It means to make information available to the public, such as releasing a news report.
Is releasing a movie the same as releasing someone from obligations?
Contextually different; releasing a movie refers to public distribution, while releasing someone from obligations means freeing them from legal responsibilities.
How important is timing in the context of release and relieve?
Timing can be crucial; timely release of information or medication can have significant impacts, as can timely relief in emergency situations.
How do actions that release and relieve differ in physical activities?
Actions that release might involve letting go or opening, while actions that relieve would be aimed at reducing physical strain or tension.
Can a single act be both releasing and relieving?
Yes, such as when a confession releases someone from emotional burden and simultaneously relieves their stress.
Does release always involve physical action?
Not always, it can also involve non-physical actions like releasing information.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
