Be Relieved To Do vs. Relieved About Something
Oxford directly records relieved + to-infinitive and relieved about + noun/event, supporting this narrow comparison.
Use “relieved to do/see/hear/know…” when relief is followed by an infinitive event. Use “relieved about something” when the complement names the matter or situation that causes relief.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| relief linked to an event expressed as an infinitive | relieved + to-infinitive | use the infinitive event construction |
| relief about a named matter, situation, or outcome | relieved about + noun phrase | use “about” to identify the matter causing relief |
Quick tests
Event-or-matter test
Are you presenting the relieving event through an infinitive, or naming the matter you feel relieved about?
If yes: Use “relieved to + verb” for the event.
If no: Use “relieved about + noun phrase” for the matter or situation.
Caveat: Other complements may occur in English; this comparison stays with the reviewed patterns.
Examples
I was relieved to hear that the deadline had moved.
The infinitive presents the event that brought relief.
She felt relieved about the revised schedule.
“About” introduces the matter causing relief.
We were relieved to finish and relieved about the final result.
The two constructions express different complement relationships.
Further guidance
Core difference
Oxford documents relieved + to-infinitive and relieved about + noun/event as standard patterns.
Style Boundary
Use about for the matter or event producing relief; use to + base verb for the infinitive event or discovery pattern.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Relieved (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for relieved + to-infinitive and relieved about + noun/event.