freely

American

[free-lee] / ˈfri li /

adverb

in a free manner.

Etymology

Origin of freely

before 900; Middle English freliche, Old English frēolīce. See free, -ly

Explanation

When you do something freely, you act without restraint or control by anyone or anything. Weekends are best when you can freely choose when to wake up and what to do with your days. Many people spend their childhoods yearning to be older so they can freely live their lives. On a smaller scale, if you let your backyard chickens roam unchecked around your property, they can move freely; and if you ice skate on a lake instead of a small indoor rink, you can move freely, in any direction, without being scolded. Freely comes from free, with its Old English root freo, "acting of one's own will."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They talk more freely about being afraid, sad, frustrated and jealous.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

It is an imponderable – not just in terms of the international picture and whether fuel is by then flowing freely through the Strait of Hormuz.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

One part consisted of superconductors, materials that allow electricity to move freely without resistance.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

Overall, higher-income consumers, bolstered by stock market gains, are still spending freely, while other cohorts are forced to pay a higher percentage of income for essentials, potentially not leaving much left for discretionary spending.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

In this way, he could attend to his wicked task freely, anonymously, without bringing more scandal to the name of Ashton.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023