Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

alleviate

/əˈli.vi.eɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.52 in modern English

Syllables: al-le-vi-ate
IPA: /əˈli.vi.eɪt/

12

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To reduce or lessen the severity of a pain or difficulty.

Transitive verb

verb

(finance) to pay down partially.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"alleviate his pain"
"Alcohol is often a cheap tool to alleviate the stress of a hard day."
"Nine months before she was taken in October 1994, Jodi was out jogging in Mason City before realizing she was being trailed. […] To alleviate her rising anxiety over the jogging incident, Jodi enrolled in a self-defense and martial arts class."
"There are different ways to alleviate your financial debt."

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviāre (“to lighten; to alleviate”). By surface analysis, al- + Latin lev- + -i- + -ate.

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

alleviates (present, singular) alleviating (participle, present) alleviated (participle, past) alleviated (past)

Derived Forms

alleviated alleviatingly alleviation alleviative alleviator

Synonyms

address allay ameliorate assuage ease mitigate quell relieve

Antonyms

aggravate exacerbate intensify

Rhymes With

deviate abbreviate

Questions

How do you pronounce alleviate?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈli.vi.eɪt/.
What does alleviate mean?: To reduce or lessen the severity of a pain or difficulty.
Where does alleviate come from?: Borrowed from Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviāre (“to lighten; to alleviate”). By surface analysis, al- + Latin lev- + -i- + -ate.

How to pronounce alleviate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “alleviate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈli.vi.eɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “alleviate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.