release

[ ri-lees ]

/ rɪˈlis /

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See synonyms for: release / re-leased / re-leases / re-leasing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), re·leased, re·leas·ing.

to free from confinement, bondage, obligation, pain, etc.; let go: to release a prisoner; to release someone from a debt.

to free from anything that restrains, fastens, etc.: to release a catapult.

to allow to be known, issued, done, or exhibited: to release an article for publication.

Law. to give up, relinquish, or surrender (a right, claim, etc.).

noun

a freeing or releasing from confinement, obligation, pain, emotional strain, etc.

liberation from anything that restrains or fastens.

some device or agency for effecting such liberation.

a grant of permission, as to publish, use, or sell something.

the releasing of something for publication, performance, use, exhibition, or sale.

the film, book, record, etc., that is released.

press release.

Law.

the surrender of a right or the like to another.
a document embodying such a surrender.

Law Obsolete. a remission, as of a debt, tax, or tribute.

Machinery.

a control mechanism for starting or stopping a machine, especially by removing some restrictive apparatus.
the opening of an exhaust port or valve at or near the working stroke of an engine so that the working fluid can be exhausted on the return stroke.
the point in the stroke of an engine at which the exhaust port or valve is opened.

(in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

OTHER WORDS FOR release

1 loose, deliver.

2 loose, extricate, disengage.

3 announce, publish.

5 liberation, deliverance, emancipation.

See synonyms for release on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR release

1 bind.

2 fasten.

See antonyms for release on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of release

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb reles(s)en, relecen, from Old French relesser, relaissier, releiss(i)er, from Latin relaxāre “to loosen, stretch out”; Middle English noun reles(s)e, releise, from Old French reles, relais, releis, back formation from relesser, relaisser, releiss(i)er; see origin at lax, relax

synonym study for release

1. Release, free, dismiss, discharge, liberate, emancipate may all mean to set at liberty, let loose, or let go. Release and free, when applied to persons, suggest a helpful action. Both may be used (not always interchangeably) of delivering a person from confinement or obligation: to free or release prisoners. Free (less often, release ) is also used for delivering a person from pain, sorrow, etc.: to free from fear. Dismiss, meaning to send away, usually has the meaning of forcing to go unwillingly ( to dismiss a servant ), but may refer to giving permission to go: The teacher dismissed the class early. Discharge, meaning originally to relieve of a burden ( to discharge a gun ), has come to refer to that which is sent away, and is often a close synonym to dismiss; it is used in the meaning permit to go in connection with courts and the armed forces: The court discharged a man accused of robbery. Liberate and emancipate, more formal synonyms for release and free, also suggest action intended to be helpful. Liberate suggests particularly the release from unjust punishment, oppression, and the like, and often means to set free through forcible action or military campaign: They liberated the prisoners, the occupied territories, etc. Emancipate also suggests a release of some size and consequence, but one that is less overt, a more formal or legal freedom; and it sometimes connotes an inner liberation: Lincoln emancipated enslaved African Americans. John emancipated himself.

OTHER WORDS FROM release

re·leas·a·bil·i·ty, nounre·leas·a·ble, re·leas·i·ble, adjectivenon·re·lease, nounun·re·leas·a·ble, adjective

un·re·leas·i·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH release

re-lease, release

Other definitions for release (2 of 2)

re-lease

[ ree-lees ]

/ riˈlis /

verb (used with object), re-leased, re-leas·ing.

to lease again.

Law. to make over (land, property, etc.), as to another.

noun

a contract for re-leasing land or property.

the land or property re-leased.

Origin of re-lease

First recorded in 1820–30; re- + lease¹

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-lease

re-lease , release

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use release in a sentence

Because the NTSB appointed Boeing as a technical adviser for the investigation, they say, the company is also bound by the protocols limiting the release of documents.
The Boeing 737 MAX Is Cleared to Fly. Families of People Who Died on the Planes Wait for Answers.|by Alec MacGillis|November 19, 2020|ProPublica
That is unlikely to be recouped with a scattershot theatrical release and some new HBO Max subscribers.
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ will arrive in theaters and on HBO Max on Christmas, defying industry convention|Steven Zeitchik|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
The settlement with the school does not include a release for Philbert.
University of Michigan reaches settlement with women who reported sexual harassment by former provost|Susan Svrluga|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
Just note that it’s missing a ton of typical features and you shouldn’t expect to use it for any real work until the official release early next year.
Apple’s M1 chip makes the new MacBook Air shockingly good|Stan Horaczek|November 18, 2020|Popular-Science

The latest data release shows Illinois public schools reported having secluded and restrained students at least 23,530 times during the 2017-18 school year, up from 17,403 two years earlier.
New Data Shows the Use of Seclusion and Restraint Increased in Illinois Schools During the 2017–18 School Year|by Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune, and Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica|November 17, 2020|ProPublica
These are the same hormones that are released when women are breastfeeding.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Another rumor that has existed since before The Empire Strikes Back was released.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)|Rich Goldstein|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I meet Otis J. the night he arrives at “The Castle,” a West Harlem halfway house for newly-released convicts.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Eventually Morrow was released with no money, vehicle, or phone.
Are Police Stealing People’s Property?|Joan Blades, Matt Kibbe|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Oh, and the first press image they released was a pair of black dudes in tracksuits as a troll of sorts to NME.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
About this time the famous Philippine painter, Juan Luna (vide p. 195), was released after six monthsʼ imprisonment as a suspect.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
John Wilkes released from the tower by the memorable sentence of chief justice Pratt.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He was released soon after Christmas, and another Vicar filleth his place.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Gently he pushed her from him, released his hold; the little face slipped from his shoulder as though it sank into the sea.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
The pedal was thrown back by a spring on being released from the pressure of the foot.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for release

release

/ (rɪˈliːs) /

verb (tr)

to free (a person, animal, etc) from captivity or imprisonment

to free (someone) from obligation or duty

to free (something) from (one's grip); let go or fall

to issue (a record, film, book, etc) for sale or circulation

to make (news or information) known or allow (news or information) to be made knownto release details of an agreement

law to relinquish (a right, claim, title, etc) in favour of someone else

ethology to evoke (a response) through the presentation of a stimulus that produces the response innately

noun

the act of freeing or state of being freed, as from captivity, imprisonment, duty, pain, life, etc

the act of issuing for sale or publication

something issued for sale or public showing, esp a film or a recorda new release from Bob Dylan

a news item, document, etc, made available for publication, broadcasting, etc

law the surrender of a claim, right, title, etc, in favour of someone else

a control mechanism for starting or stopping an engine

the opening of the exhaust valve of a steam engine near the end of the piston stroke
the moment at which this valve opens

the electronic control regulating how long a note sounds after a synthesizer key has been released

the control mechanism for the shutter in a camera

Derived forms of release

releaser, noun

Word Origin for release

C13: from Old French relesser, from Latin relaxāre to slacken; see relax

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

release

OTHER WORDS FOR release

OPPOSITES FOR release

Origin of release

synonym study for release

OTHER WORDS FROM release

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH release

Other definitions for release (2 of 2)

Origin of re-lease

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-lease

Words related to release

How to use release in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for release

Derived forms of release

Word Origin for release