alleviate

UK: /əˈliːvieɪt/ US: /əˈliviˌeɪt/ ,(ə lē′vē āt′)

Inflections of 'alleviate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

alleviates

v 3rd person singular

alleviating

v pres p

alleviated

v past

alleviated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•le•vi•ate /əˈliviˌeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to make easier to endure:
   to alleviate pain.

al•le•vi•a•tion /əˌliviˈeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -lev-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•le•vi•ate  (ə lē′vē āt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to make easier to endure;
   lessen;
   mitigate:
   to alleviate sorrow; to alleviate pain.

• Late Latin alleviātus (past participle of alleviāre), equivalent. to al- al- + levi(s) light, not heavy + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English alleviaten 1425–75

Synonyms

lighten, diminish, abate, relieve, assuage.

Antonyms

increase, strengthen; aggravate, intensify.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

alleviate / əˈliːvɪˌeɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to make (pain, sorrow, etc) easier to bear; lessen; relieve

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin alleviāre to mitigate, from Latin levis light

alˌleviˈation noun

alˈleviˌator noun

USAGE
ameliorate