Basic Details
Word: Alleviate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To make pain, a problem or suffering less severe or easier to bear.
Synonyms: ease, relieve, reduce, soothe
Antonyms: worsen, aggravate, intensify
Word origin: Comes from Latin alleviare, to lighten, from levis, light.
How to Spell Alleviate
Syllables: al - le - vi - ate
Tricky part: It starts with a double l, then e, then viate. The i after v is often missed.
Watch out for: aleviate, alleveate, allievate
Memory tip: Write the word all first, then eviate: all + eviate. Two l's open the word.
Usage Examples
Example 1: A cold compress can alleviate a headache.
Example 2: The new flyover was built to alleviate traffic jams.
Example 3: Planting trees may help alleviate the heat in our city.
Fun Fact
The Latin levis, light in weight, also gave English levitate, to rise and float in the air.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. ellaborate 2. alleviate 3. exhilerate 4. agravate
a) to explain in more detail
b) to make someone feel very happy and excited
c) to make a bad situation worse
d) to make pain or a problem less severe
Show answer
d) to make pain or a problem less severe. Aggravate needs gg, elaborate one l and exhilarate an a after the l, so alleviate is the only correct spelling.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word alleviate as used in the sentence:
The doctor gave Nana a cream to alleviate the itching from the mosquito bites.
a) worsen
b) hide
c) spread
d) ease
Show answer
d) ease. To ease pain is to make it less, which is the meaning of alleviate.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
al_ev_ate
a) l, i
b) i, a
c) l, e
d) e, i
Show answer
a) l, i. The l doubles at the start, and an i comes after the v.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would alleviate hunger?
a) a long run
b) a cold shower
c) a loud song
d) a plate of food
Show answer
d) a plate of food
2. To alleviate a problem is to ____.
a) hide it
b) make it bigger
c) ignore it
d) make it less serious
Show answer
d) make it less serious
