Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Using relieve with prepositions

Relieve is commonly followed by of when someone is freed from a burden, duty, or feeling. By usually introduces the method or amount of change.

Quick answer

Relieve of vs. relieve by

Relieve of is the standard pattern meaning to remove a burden or problem from someone. Relieve by is not usually a fixed combination, though by can describe how relief happens.

The medicine helped relieve of pain in severe cases.
She was relieved of her duties.
Stress can be relieved by regular exercise.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
relieve of + burden or feeling

Removing something unpleasant

Use of when someone is freed from pain, duty, fear, or responsibility.

The treatment relieved him of discomfort.
She was relieved of financial pressure.
2
relieve by + method

Explaining how relief happens

By introduces the method or action that creates relief.

The symptoms were relieved by rest and hydration.
Pressure can be relieved by opening the valve.
3
relieve with + treatment

Naming the thing used for relief

With introduces the tool, medicine, or treatment used.

Doctors tried to relieve the pain with medication.
He relieved the tension with a joke.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
relieve of
The manager relieved her of responsibility.
remove a burden or duty
relieve by
The pain was relieved by medication.
by introduces the cause or method of relief
relieve with
They relieved the symptoms with ice packs.
tool or treatment used
relieve from
The new policy gave relief from stress.
from is more common with the noun relief than with the verb relieve

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using by as the direct complement

Use of for the thing removed from someone.

✕ They relieved him by stress. ✓ They relieved him of stress.

Leaving out of after relieved

Relieved often needs of before the burden or duty.

✕ She was relieved her duties. ✓ She was relieved of her duties.

Confusing relieve and relief

Relief from is common, but the verb usually takes of.

✕ The treatment relieved her from pain. ✓ The treatment relieved her of pain.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The nurse relieved him ___ his anxiety.
2. The pressure was relieved ___ opening the valve.
3. They relieved the pain ___ medication.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is relieve of correct?

Yes. Relieve of is the standard expression for removing a burden, duty, or unpleasant feeling.

Can relieve be followed by by?

Yes, but by usually introduces the method or cause, not the thing removed.

Why do I hear relief from more often?

Relief from is common because relief is a noun. The verb relieve more often takes of.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? react to, with, in, by or like? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account