Meaning of relieve sb of sth In English

• 0 to take from a person something that they are carrying, in a helpful or polite way:

  • May I relieve you of that heavy bag?

  • The pickpocket delicately relieved him of his wallet.

• 1 to remove someone from their job or position because they have done something wrong:

  • Following the scandal, he was relieved of his post as deputy finance minister.

  • The committee's chairperson is to be relieved of her duties.

  • The general was relieved of his command in 1941.

• 2 to help someone by taking a problem or difficult task from them so that they no longer have to deal with it:

  • Japanese lawyer Mika Matsumoto says relieving hard-working locals of their debt burdens is her highest priority.

  • Taking back the equipment when it is finished with relieves the customer of the cost and effort of disposal.

• 3 to take away someone's job or official position because they are not good enough or have done something wrong:

  • The governing body is coming under huge pressure to relieve the chairman of his duties.