free

FREE/fɹiː/

Verbfrees, freeing, freed

32 meanings of free

Practice

1
no chargeadjective
Costing nothing, so you do not have to pay for it.
The museum is free on Sundays.
Every visitor gets a free map.
UsageSay free of charge to show it costs nothing.
Similarcomplimentary, gratis
Oppositepaid
Note
2
adjective
Not limited or controlled, so able to act, move, or choose as wanted.
The children were free to play wherever they liked.
You are free to leave at any time.
UsageSay you're free to go. The idiom is free rein (not ~~incorrect: free reign~~), like a horse's reins.
Similarunconstrained, unhindered, unfettered
Oppositerestricted, constrained
3
adverb
Without paying any money, or without any charge being made.
Children under five travel free on the bus.
Kids eat free at that diner on Tuesdays.
UsageSay I got it free or for free.
Similargratis
4
clear ofadjective
Not having, containing or affected by a particular thing.
This soap is free of perfume.
At last she was free from pain.
UsageSay free of mistakes or free from worry. Also sugar-free.
Similardevoid, clear, exempt, rid, clean
Oppositefull, riddled, laden, fraught
5
liberateverbtransitive
To get someone or something out of what holds, traps or controls them, or weighs them down.
The court freed the two men after new evidence appeared.
Volunteers worked all night to free the trapped whale.
UsageSay free someone from something. The past is freed.
Similarrelease, liberate, extricate
Oppositeimprison, capture, confine, trap
Note
6
not captiveadjective
Not kept in prison and not owned as a slave.
After ten years in prison, he was finally free.
The law said every child born in the state was free.
UsageSay set someone free or break free.
Similarunfettered
Oppositeenslaved, imprisoned, bound, constrained
Note
7
availableadjective
Available, because a person is not busy or a thing is not being used.
Are you free this evening?
I have a free afternoon on Friday.
UsageAre you free tomorrow? means do you have time.
Similaravailable, spare, unoccupied, vacant
Oppositebusy, occupied, engaged
Note
8
separateadjective
Not joined or fixed to anything else.
Tie the free end of the rope around the tree.
Gold is one of the few metals often found free in nature, not joined with other elements.
Similarloose, unattached, detached, uncombined
Oppositeattached, fixed, combined
Note
9
no set formadjective
Not following the original words closely, or not following strict rules of form.
The teacher wanted a free translation, not a word-for-word one.
Her poem is written in free verse, with no set rhythm or rhyme.
UsageA free translation is not word for word.
Similarloose
Oppositeliteral, faithful, close
10
open sourceadjective
Describes software that anyone may use, copy, study, change and share, whether or not it costs money.
The program is free software, so anyone can improve it.
Our school uses free software, so students are allowed to change it and share copies.
UsageFree as in freedom is different from free as in beer, which means no cost.
Similarlibre, unrestricted, unfettered
Oppositeproprietary, nonfree, restricted
Note

Less common meanings

11
generousadjective
Happy to give or spend a lot.
My aunt is free with her praise and her cake.
Don't be so free with other people's things.
UsageSay free with money or advice.
Similargenerous, liberal, lavish, unstinting, open-handed
Oppositestingy, mean, miserly, sparing
Note
12
open to alladjective
Open to everyone to use, without anyone being kept out.
Anyone may fish in the lake. It is free to all, not just the people who own land around it.
The field was free to rich and poor alike, and anyone could keep a cow there.
Similaropen, accessible, public, unrestricted
Oppositerestricted, private, closed, exclusive
Note
13
democraticadjective
Allowing people to speak, vote, and live as they choose, used of a country or government.
People in a free country can criticize their leaders.
A free government lets its citizens vote, meet, and pray as they choose.
UsageIt's a free country means I can do what I want.
Similarunfettered
Oppositeauthoritarian, unfree, restricted
Note
14
clear flowadjective
Not blocked, so that things can move or flow through.
Make sure the air vents are free so the heat can get out.
Keep the exit free at all times.
Similarclear, unobstructed
Oppositeblocked, obstructed
15
foul restartnounabbreviation
In Australian rules, Gaelic football and hurling, a free kick or hit a player is given, usually after a foul.
The umpire gave a free against the tackler.
She took the free and kicked a goal.
Note
16
swimmingnouncolloquialabbreviation
In swimming, short for freestyle: a race where any stroke is allowed, or the front crawl most swimmers use in it.
She won the 100 meters free by a full second.
He swims free and backstroke.
Note
17
transfer (soccer)nouncountable
In soccer, a move to a new club with no fee paid.
The striker joined on a free last summer.
Our best player left on a free, so the club didn't get a penny.
UsageSay a player joined on a free.
Note
18
eager (horse)adjectivedated
Describes a horse that is lively and eager to move, with no need for a whip.
A free horse needs no whip.
The mare was free and forward on the road.
Similarwilling, eager, spirited, keen
Oppositesluggish, lazy, reluctant
Note
19
admitted (old use)adjectivedated
Given special rights or privileges, such as the right to use a place or trade, an old use.
He was made free of the city and could trade there.
He therefore makes all birds, of every sect, / Free of his farm.
1697, John Dryden, The Hind and the PantherHere, free of means allowed to use and enjoy, given the rights of.
Similarenfranchised
Note
20
verb
In computer programs, to give memory back to the system when it is no longer needed.
21
adjective
In law, held as a private right, not shared with everyone.
22
adjective
Used in algebra about a structure that is as general as possible, with no extra rules.
23
adjective
Describes a rocket that nothing steers once it has been launched.
24
adjective
In linguistics, able to be used as a word on its own, not just as part of one.
25
adjective
In logic or computing, describes a variable that is not tied to the part of the formula or code it is in.
26
adjective
Describes a software version made for release, without the extra checks used in testing.
27
adjectiveobsolete
Having done nothing wrong.
My hands are guilty, but my heart is free.
1679, John Dryden, Oedipus: A Tragedy
28
adjective
In math, built on a set so its maps into similar objects extend to exactly one structure-keeping map.
29
adjective
Of a group in math, built from elements with no extra rules linking them.
30
adjective
Of a module in math, having a basis.
31
adjectiveobsoleteUK
In old law, describing duties for holding land that were fixed or honorable, not like a serf's.
32
adverbobsolete
Because you want to, not because you must.
I as free forgive you / As I would be forgiven.
c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Henry VIII

More uses

free upto make time, money or space available for something else

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of free apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6–14, 18–19

From Old English frēo, meaning "free." It goes back to an old root meaning "pleased" or "loved," and is related to the word friend.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Free descends from Old English frēo, meaning 'free'. en.wiktionary.org
An ancestral form meant 'pleased' or 'loved'. en.wiktionary.org
Free and friend are etymologically related. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 5

From Old English frēon, meaning "to free" or "make free."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The verb free derives from Old English frēon, meaning 'to free' or 'make free'. en.wiktionary.org