VOA名师答疑2023--Release and Relief

Release and Relief

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "release" and "relief."

Question

Hello VOA Learning English,

I am Renna. I am glad you saw my email. I want to ask the difference between "release" and "relief."

Thank you so much,

Renna

Answer

Dear Renna,

These words are often mistaken because they sound similar.

Both 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."

Release

The word "release" can be either a verb or a noun. As a verb it can take a direct object. "Release" has several meanings.

The first meaning is to free or let go, especially if limited in some way.

The teacher released the class 15 minutes early.

The kidnappers¹ released their hostages when the negotiations² ended.

"Release" as verb can also mean to express, especially feelings or ability.

Sarah released many emotions during therapy.

The acting³ class will help release my inner artist.

Lastly, "release" can mean to make available or to publicize.

VOA Learning English has released its new video series, Let's Learn English with Anna online.

The White House press office released the president's plan to reach net-zero emissions⁴ by 2050.

As a noun, a "release" is the action or process of being released.

The activists⁵ postponed⁶ the fish release when the river level dropped.

Now let's move onto "relief."

Relief

"Relief" as a noun is the easing of pain, difficulty or lack.

The only relief for her headache was to lie still in a dark room.

It is such a relief to know you're back home safely.

The government opened roads so relief, including medicine, could get through to the disaster site.

And lastly, "relief" means a person who takes on the responsibility of others to provide support.

As a relief employee, Pat works at all the local hospitals filling in when a nurse takes leave.

Relief or relieve?

One 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.

For example, to "relieve" means to cause something to be less such as pain or stress.

A visit to the steam room relieved her back pain.

"Relieve" can also mean to free someone of a job, duties, a burden, or responsibility, like the relief nurse.

A relief nurse takes over or relieves another nurse of their work.

This meaning of "relieve" is most closely related to "release" as "to make available."

He carried my bags for me, which relieved me.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Renna.

Words in This Story

net-zero –n. a situation in which nothing is gained and nothing is lost

emissions –n. (often pl.) something that is released, such as a gas or gasses, from a process

steam – n. water vapor⁷ kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work : – v. to apply steam to

1 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

7 vapor   

n.蒸汽，雾气

参考例句：

• The cold wind condenses vapor into rain.冷风使水蒸气凝结成雨。
• This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor.这部机器有时排出大量的热气。