Release and Relief
2023-01-21
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1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "release" and "relief."
2Hello VOA Learning English,
3I am Renna. I am glad you saw my email.
4I want to ask the difference between "release" and "relief."
5Thank you so much,
6Renna
7Dear Renna,
8These words are often mistaken because they sound similar.
9Both words come from Latin and old French before making their way into the English language.
10They have completely different meanings and parts of speech. Let's begin by looking at "release."
11The word "release" can be either a verb or a noun.
12As a verb it can take a direct object.
13"Release" has several meanings.
14The first meaning is to free or let go, especially if limited in some way.
15The teacher released the class 15 minutes early.
16The kidnappers released their hostages when the negotiations ended.
17"Release" as verb can also mean to express, especially feelings or ability.
18Sarah released many emotions during therapy.
19The acting class will help release my inner artist.
20Lastly, "release" can mean to make available or to publicize.
21VOA Learning English has released its new video series, Let's Learn English with Anna online.
22The White House press office released the president's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
23As a noun, a "release" is the action or process of being released.
24The activists postponed the fish release when the river level dropped.
25Now let's move onto "relief."
26"Relief" as a noun is the easing of pain, difficulty or lack.
27The only relief for her headache was to lie still in a dark room.
28It is such a relief to know you're back home safely.
29The government opened roads so relief, including medicine, could get through to the disaster site.
30And lastly, "relief" means a person who takes on the responsibility of others to provide support.
31As a relief employee, Pat works at all the local hospitals filling in when a nurse takes leave.
32One important note about the word "relief." "Relief" as a verb is "relieve," which can sometimes be confused as "release."
33The meanings of "relieve" are connected to those of "relief," but just in the verb or action form.
34For example, to "relieve" means to cause something to be less such as pain or stress.
35A visit to the steam room relieved her back pain.
36"Relieve" can also mean to free someone of a job, duties, a burden, or responsibility, like the relief nurse.
37A relief nurse takes over or relieves another nurse of their work.
38This meaning of "relieve" is most closely related to "release" as "to make available."
39He carried my bags for me, which relieved me.
40Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Renna.
41What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
42And that's Ask a Teacher.
43I'm Faith Pirlo.
1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "release" and "relief." 2Question 3Hello VOA Learning English, 4I am Renna. I am glad you saw my email. I want to ask the difference between "release" and "relief." 5Thank you so much, 6Renna 7Answer 8Dear Renna, 9These words are often mistaken because they sound similar. 10Both words come from Latin and old French before making their way into the English language. They have completely different meanings and parts of speech. Let's begin by looking at "release." 11Release 12The word "release" can be either a verb or a noun. As a verb it can take a direct object. "Release" has several meanings. 13The first meaning is to free or let go, especially if limited in some way. 14The teacher released the class 15 minutes early. 15The kidnappers released their hostages when the negotiations ended. 16"Release" as verb can also mean to express, especially feelings or ability. 17Sarah released many emotions during therapy. 18The acting class will help release my inner artist. 19Lastly, "release" can mean to make available or to publicize. 20VOA Learning English has released its new video series, Let's Learn English with Anna online. 21The White House press office released the president's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. 22As a noun, a "release" is the action or process of being released. 23The activists postponed the fish release when the river level dropped. 24Now let's move onto "relief." 25Relief 26"Relief" as a noun is the easing of pain, difficulty or lack. 27The only relief for her headache was to lie still in a dark room. 28It is such a relief to know you're back home safely. 29The government opened roads so relief, including medicine, could get through to the disaster site. 30And lastly, "relief" means a person who takes on the responsibility of others to provide support. 31As a relief employee, Pat works at all the local hospitals filling in when a nurse takes leave. 32Relief or relieve? 33One important note about the word "relief." "Relief" as a verb is "relieve," which can sometimes be confused as "release." The meanings of "relieve" are connected to those of "relief," but just in the verb or action form. 34For example, to "relieve" means to cause something to be less such as pain or stress. 35A visit to the steam room relieved her back pain. 36"Relieve" can also mean to free someone of a job, duties, a burden, or responsibility, like the relief nurse. 37A relief nurse takes over or relieves another nurse of their work. 38This meaning of "relieve" is most closely related to "release" as "to make available." 39He carried my bags for me, which relieved me. 40Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Renna. 41What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com 42And that's Ask a Teacher. 43I'm Faith Pirlo. 44Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 45___________________________________________________________________ 46Words in This Story 47net-zero -n. a situation in which nothing is gained and nothing is lost 48emissions -n. (often pl.) something that is released, such as a gas or gasses, from a process 49steam - n. water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work : - v. to apply steam to 50___________________________________________________________________ 51Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 52Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.