Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense reprieves, present participle reprieving, past tense, past participle reprieved
1. verb [usually passive, no cont]
If someone who has been sentenced in a court is reprieved, their punishment is officially delayed or cancelled.
Fourteen people on death row for murder have been reprieved. [beVERB-ed]
Reprieve is also a noun
A man awaiting death by lethal injection has been saved by a last minute reprieve.
2. countable noun [usually singular]
A reprieve is a delay before a very unpleasant or difficult situation which may or may not take place.
It looked as though the college would have to shut, but this week it was given areprieve.
More Synonyms of reprieve
reprieve in British English
(rɪˈpriːv)
verb(transitive)
1.
to postpone or remit the punishment of (a person, esp one condemned to death)
2.
to give temporary relief to (a person or thing), esp from otherwise irrevocable harm
the government has reprieved the company with a huge loan
noun
3.
a postponement or remission of punishment, esp of a person condemned to death
4.
a warrant granting a postponement
5.
a temporary relief from pain or harm; respite
6.
the act of reprieving or the state of being reprieved
Derived forms
reprievable (reˈprievable)
adjective
repriever (reˈpriever)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French repris (something) taken back, from reprendre to take back, from Latin reprehendere; perhaps also influenced by obsolete English repreve to reprove
reprieve in American English
(rɪˈpriv)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈprieved or reˈprieving
1.
to postpone the punishment of; esp., to postpone the execution of (a person condemned to death)
2.
to give temporary relief to, as from trouble or pain
noun
3.
a reprieving or being reprieved
; specif.,
a.
postponement of a penalty, esp. that of death; also, a warrant ordering this
b.
a temporary relief or escape, as from trouble or pain
Word origin
earlier repry < Anglo-Fr repris < MFr, pp. of reprendre, to take back, prob. altered by assoc. with ME repreven, reprove
Examples of 'reprieve' in a sentence
reprieve
Will waited, daring to hope the information might give him a reprieve.
Clive Barker SACRAMENT (2001)
On his face was the look of a condemned man who was afraid that the news of a reprieve might be a rumour.
St. James, Ian FINAL RESORT (2001)
But the point was that for now, at least, we had a reprieve.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2001)
In other languages
reprieve
British English: reprieve VERB
If someone who has been sentenced in a court is reprieved, their punishment is officially delayed or cancelled.
The team finished in bottom place, but will be reprieved from relegation next season.
American English: reprieve
Brazilian Portuguese: suspender temporariamente
Chinese: > 缓刑被判
European Spanish: indultar
French: accorder un sursis à
German: begnadigen
Italian: sospendere l'esecuzione della condanna a
Japanese: 執行を猶予する
Korean: 집행 유예를 받다
European Portuguese: suspender temporariamente
Latin American Spanish: indultar
1 (verb)
Definition
to postpone the execution of (a condemned person)
Fourteen people, waiting to be hanged, have been reprieved.
Synonyms
grant a stay of execution to
spare
`Spare me!' he cowered.
amnesty
Last year Parliament amnestied the plotters.
pardon
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
acquit
let off the hook (slang)
grant an amnesty to
postpone or remit the punishment of
2 (verb)
Definition
to give temporary relief to
Another five stores have been reprieved until the New Year at least.
Synonyms
save
She could have saved him from this final disaster.
rescue
He rescued a 14th century barn from demolition.
give respite to
3 (verb)
Synonyms
relieve
Drugs can relieve much of the pain.
alleviate
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
respite
allay
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
mitigate
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
abate
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
palliate
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
1 (noun)
Definition
a postponement or cancellation of a punishment
a reprieve for eight people waiting to be hanged
Synonyms
stay of execution
suspension
the suspension of flights between London and Manchester
amnesty
Activists will not automatically be granted amnesty.
pardon
They lobbied the government on his behalf and he was granted a pardon.
respite
Devaluation would only give the economy brief respite.
acquittal
remission
I've got 10 years and there's no remission for repeat offenders.
abeyance
deferment
postponement of punishment
2 (noun)
Definition
a temporary relief from pain or harm
a government reprieve for part of the country's coal industry
Synonyms
relief
The news will come as a great relief.
respite
I rang home during a brief respite at work.
let-up (informal)
There was no sign of any let-up in the battle on the money markets yesterday.
mitigation
the mitigation or cure of a physical or mental condition
abatement
noise abatement
alleviation
They focussed on the alleviation of the refugees' misery.
palliation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
Synonyms
reduce,
slow,
relax,
ease,
relieve,
moderate,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
decrease,
lessen,
alleviate,
quell,
mitigate,
attenuate,
slake
in the sense of abatement
noise abatement
Synonyms
reduction,
slowing,
relief,
easing,
weakening,
dulling,
allowance,
decrease,
lessening,
cutback,
quelling,
moderation,
remission,
slackening,
mitigation,
diminution,
curtailment,
alleviation,
slaking,
attenuation,
extenuation
in the sense of allay
Definition
to reduce (fear, doubt, or anger)
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
Synonyms
reduce,
quiet,
relax,
ease,
calm,
smooth,
relieve,
check,
moderate,
dull,
diminish,
compose,
soften,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
quell,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify
Synonyms of 'reprieve'
reprieve
Explore 'reprieve' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alleviate
Definition
to lessen (pain or suffering)
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
Synonyms
ease,
reduce,
relieve,
moderate,
smooth,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
check,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
lighten,
quell,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
slacken,
assuage,
quench,
mollify,
slake,
palliate
in the sense of alleviation
They focussed on the alleviation of the refugees' misery.
Synonyms
easing,
relief,
reduction,
dulling,
lessening,
lightening,
quelling,
moderation,
slackening,
quenching,
mitigation,
diminution,
slaking,
palliation
in the sense of amnesty
Last year Parliament amnestied the plotters.
Synonyms
pardon,
free,
release,
excuse,
forgive,
overlook,
liberate,
acquit,
condone,
reprieve,
remit,
let off (informal),
exonerate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of amnesty
Definition
a general pardon for offences against a government
Activists will not automatically be granted amnesty.
Synonyms
general pardon,
mercy,
pardoning,
immunity,
forgiveness,
reprieve,
oblivion,
remission,
clemency,
dispensation,
absolution,
condonation
in the sense of let-up
Definition
a lessening
There was no sign of any let-up in the battle on the money markets yesterday.
Synonyms
lessening,
break,
pause,
interval,
recess,
respite,
lull,
cessation,
remission,
breathing space,
slackening,
abatement
in the sense of mitigate
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease,
moderate,
soften,
check,
quiet,
calm,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
temper,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
appease,
lighten,
remit,
allay,
placate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
take the edge off,
extenuate,
tranquillize,
palliate,
reduce the force of
in the sense of mitigation
the mitigation or cure of a physical or mental condition
Synonyms
relief,
moderation,
allaying,
remission,
diminution,
abatement,
alleviation,
easement,
extenuation,
mollification,
palliation,
assuagement
in the sense of palliate
Definition
to lessen the severity of (pain or disease) without curing it
Certain drugs can palliate the main symptoms.
Synonyms
relieve,
relax,
ease,
moderate,
diminish,
temper,
soften,
soothe,
alleviate,
mitigate,
assuage,
mollify
in the sense of pardon
Definition
to forgive or excuse (a person) for (an offence, mistake etc)
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
Synonyms
acquit,
free,
release,
liberate,
reprieve,
remit,
amnesty,
let off (informal),
exonerate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of pardon
Definition
official release from punishment for a crime
They lobbied the government on his behalf and he was granted a pardon.
Synonyms
acquittal,
release,
discharge,
amnesty,
reprieve,
remission,
exoneration
Additional synonyms
in the sense of remission
Definition
a reduction in the length of a prison term
I've got 10 years and there's no remission for repeat offenders.
Synonyms
pardon,
release,
discharge,
amnesty,
forgiveness,
indulgence,
exemption,
reprieve,
acquittal,
absolution,
exoneration,
excuse
in the sense of rescue
Definition
to bring (someone or something) out of danger or trouble
He rescued a 14th century barn from demolition.
Synonyms
salvage,
save,
deliver,
redeem,
come to the rescue of
in the sense of respite
Definition
a temporary delay
Devaluation would only give the economy brief respite.
Synonyms
reprieve,
stay,
delay,
suspension,
moratorium,
postponement,
adjournment
in the sense of respite
Definition
an interval of rest
I rang home during a brief respite at work.
Synonyms
pause,
break,
rest,
relief,
halt,
interval,
relaxation,
recess,
interruption,
lull,
cessation,
let-up (informal),
breathing space,
breather (informal),
hiatus,
intermission
in the sense of spare
Definition
to stop from killing, punishing, or injuring (someone)
`Spare me!' he cowered.
Synonyms
have mercy on,
pardon,
have pity on,
leave,
release,
excuse,
let off (informal),
not harm,
go easy on (informal),
leave unharmed,
be merciful to,
grant pardon to,
deal leniently with,
leave uninjured,
refrain from hurting,
save (from harm),
relieve from
in the sense of suspension
Definition
the delaying or stopping temporarily of something
the suspension of flights between London and Manchester