French Conversation · Level 73
60 words
French word
relève
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁəlɛv/
Meaning
- feminine nounreplacement
Example
La relève arrive à huit heures.
The replacement arrives at eight o'clock.
More examples
La relève de nuit commence à minuit.
The night shift starts at midnight.
Core concept
A new person stepping into an ongoing role as the previous person steps out.
Common phrases
prendre la relève
take over
la relève de nuit
night shift
Similar words
remplaçant: A person who takes over a job during someone else's absence.
intérim: Temporary responsibility for a role until a permanent successor is appointed.
relais: A relay arrangement that keeps a task going through successive handovers.
Definition in French
Fait de prendre la suite ou la responsabilité d'une personne, souvent employé au sens figuré pour parler de la transmission d'un rôle ou d'une fonction.
Word origin
Relève is formed from French relever, from Old French relever and ultimately Latin relevare, with the replacement sense developing from taking someone else's place.
Usage tips
- The standard phrase is prendre la relève de quelqu'un, with de introducing the person being replaced.
Other meanings
- successornoun
Opposites
- permanencepermanent presencenoun
- continuitécontinuitynoun