release

American  

[ri-lees] / rɪˈlis /

verb (used with object)

• releases,
  present (3rd person singular)
• released,
  past participle,  past
• releasing
  present participle

1. to free from confinement, bondage, obligation, pain, etc.; let go.

   to release a prisoner; to release someone from a debt.

   Synonyms:

   deliver, loose

   Antonyms:

   bind

2. to free from anything that restrains, fastens, etc..

   to release a catapult.

   Synonyms:

   disengage, extricate, loose

   Antonyms:

   fasten

3. to allow to be known, issued, done, or exhibited.

   to release an article for publication.

   Synonyms:

   publish, announce

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

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noun

• releases
  plural

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

   Synonyms:

   emancipation, deliverance, liberation

2. liberation from anything that restrains or fastens.

3. some device or agency for effecting such liberation.

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

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

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

7. press release.

8. Law.

   1. the surrender of a right or the like to another.

   2. a document embodying such a surrender.

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

10. Machinery.

    1. a control mechanism for starting or stopping a machine, especially by removing some restrictive apparatus.

    2. 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.

    3. the point in the stroke of an engine at which the exhaust port or valve is opened.

11. (in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

release British  

/ rɪˈliːs /

verb

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

2. to free (someone) from obligation or duty

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

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

5. to make (news or information) known or allow (news or information) to be made known

   to release details of an agreement

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

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

---

noun

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

2. the act of issuing for sale or publication

3. something issued for sale or public showing, esp a film or a record

   a new release from Bob Dylan

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

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

6. a control mechanism for starting or stopping an engine

7. 1. the opening of the exhaust valve of a steam engine near the end of the piston stroke

   2. the moment at which this valve opens

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

9. the control mechanism for the shutter in a camera

Usage

What is a basic definition of release? Release means to free from imprisonment or confinement, to free from anything that is acting as a constraint, or to allow something to be out in the open. The word release has many other senses as a verb and a noun. When a person is released, they are freed from their captivity or anything else that was hindering their freedom. This sense of release is an antonym of words like imprison, detain, or confine.

• Real-life examples: A person is released from prison once they complete their sentence. For the most part, a person is released from debt if they declare bankruptcy. Parents often force children to release wild animals back to wherever they came from.
• Used in a sentence: Whenever I go fishing, I always release the fish back into the water after catching them. 

Release is also used in this same sense as a noun.

• Used in a sentence: The king paid for the release of his son from the enemy. 

Release is also used figuratively to mean to free anything from any kind of restraint.

• Used in a sentence: I released the rope and let it fall down into the hole.  

Release can also mean to allow something to be freely distributed or sold to the public.

• Real-life examples: Authors release new books. Musicians release new albums. The government sometimes releases information to the press. Researchers release the results of tests or studies to the public.
• Used in a sentence: Stephen King just released a new book that I really want to read.

Release is used in this same sense as a noun.

• Used in a sentence: People lined up to buy Beyoncé’s newest release. 

Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrelease
  noun
• releasability
  noun
• releaser
  noun
• releasable
  adjective
• releasible
  adjective
• unreleasable
  adjective
• unreleasible
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• releases
  plural

Participles

• releasing
  present
• released
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• release
  simple
• releases
  simple
• have released
  perfect
• has released
  perfect
• am releasing
  progressive
• are releasing
  progressive
• is releasing
  progressive
• have been releasing
  perfect progressive
• has been releasing
  perfect progressive

Past

• released
  simple
• had released
  perfect
• was releasing
  progressive
• were releasing
  progressive
• had been releasing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will release
  simple
• will have released
  perfect
• will be releasing
  progressive
• will have been releasing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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

Explanation

To release something or someone is to set it free, like a caged animal or a prisoner. “I shall be released” is a famous refrain from a 1967 Bob Dylan song that has come to symbolize political freedom around the world. Release, which is a noun and a verb, has many different meanings. As a noun, it can mean a liberation, an unfastening, or the condition of being made available, like a movie or a CD. “When is the new Spiderman movie being released?” you might ask your best friend. As a verb, it can mean to relieve of suffering or obligation, like a debt. But it can also mean to lay off from a job, or surrender. “Release me from having to watch this terrible movie!” you could end up saying about the 16th Spiderman sequel. And who would blame you?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

release releases released releasing

Human rights groups, including the UN, consider the G-15 prisoners of conscience and have been calling for their release.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Human muscles use adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, to store and release the energy needed for contraction.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

In essence, his messaging throughout this past week suggested AI labs hold the responsibility to ensure the products they release are safe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

The Long Beach Police Department responded around 12:35 a.m. to the intersection of East 7th Street and Pacific Coast Highway, according to a police department news release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

“I am sorry, Phillip. You promised to release me from my service if I healed this...creature,” she said, pointing at the slumbering wolf.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

I found it distasteful mostly because it was drudge work, as were other tasks such as writing press releases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Veteran broadcaster John Humphrys has said the people of the United Kingdom should "be able to choose our leaders" as he releases a documentary exploring the role of the Royal Family.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

He rarely issued press releases, didn’t convene news conferences, and disliked raising campaign money.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Microsoft stock rises even as the AI trade gets hit hard after the company releases its AI model code of conduct.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

And then he releases her and walks away.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

After the cryptocurrency was first released, back in 2009, its price had fluctuated between nothing and $1 for over two years.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

Dan Thomas said he had been "released without charge" and had "done nothing wrong".

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

The same laboratory has investigated pinene, a fragrant chemical naturally released by many trees.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

The reality star and fashion mogul reveals in the reality series’ Season 8 trailer released Thursday that she has been diagnosed with esophagitis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

When Torak released its muzzle, it rolled onto its back, baring its pale fluffy belly, and gave him a silent grin of apology.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Despite widespread interest from the music industry, he remained independent - releasing music on his own label, and selling mixtapes at markets and independent record shops.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Alongside the pearled axons, they found evidence of ultrafast endocytosis, a process through which nerve endings quickly retrieve membrane after releasing chemical messages.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

The rapper has channeled his views on the conflict into his music, releasing his protest song “Hind’s Hall” in May 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

After releasing positive data in the fall of 2025, its stock quadrupled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The third woman grabbed Anya in a hug and kissed her a few times before releasing her, and the two younger girls slid up beside Anya while the older women talked around them.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• clear
• deliver
• discharge
• drop
• free
• issue
• leak
• surrender