Simple Definition of free
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: not costing any money
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: not held as a slave or prisoner
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: not physically held by something
Full Definition of free
freer
freest
1 a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty <free citizens> c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another
2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself b : determined by the choice of the actor or performer <free actions> c : made, done, or given voluntarily or spontaneously
3 a : relieved from or lacking something and especially something unpleasant or burdensome <free from pain> <a speech free of political rhetoric> —often used in combination <error-free> b : not bound, confined, or detained by force
4 a : having no trade restrictions b : not subject to government regulation c of foreign exchange : not subject to restriction or official control
5 a : having no obligations (as to work) or commitments <I'll be free this evening> b : not taken up with commitments or obligations <a free evening>
6 : having a scope not restricted by qualification <a free variable>
7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded <free to leave> b : not being used or occupied <waved with his free hand> c : not hampered or restricted in its normal operation
8 a : not fastened <the free end of the rope> b : not confined to a particular position or place <in twelve-tone music, no note is wholly free for it must hold its place in the series — J. L. Stewart> c : capable of moving or turning in any direction <a free particle> d : performed without apparatus <free tumbling> e : done with artificial aids (as pitons) used only for protection against falling and not for support <a free climb>
for free
Examples of free in a sentence
They're giving out free tickets to the show.
The school newsletter is free.
After 10 years in jail, he was finally a free man.
The animal struggled to get free of the trap.
His legs became caught in the net, and he was unable to get himself free.
Can Something Be "For free?"
The word free is often encountered on the heels of the word for, and this combination sets some people’s teeth on edge. The main objection to the phrase for free is that, in this instance, free functions as an adverb rather than a noun and therefore should not be in the intimate company of the preposition for. Following this line of reasoning, a more correct phrasing would be to say that something is offered for nothing, for no charge, or some other combination of preposition + noun. Unfortunately for critics of the expression, English users do not agree. Despite its recent adoption in the mid-20th century and its informality, for free is in widespread use and is generally accepted in standard speech and writing.
Origin and Etymology of free
Middle English, from Old English frēo; akin to Old High German frī free, Welsh rhydd, Sanskrit priya own, dear
First Known Use: before 12th century
Synonym Discussion of free
free
Simple Definition of free
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: to release (a person or animal) from a prison, cage, etc.
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: to release (someone or something) from being physically held or blocked
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: to cause or allow (someone or something) to stop having or being affected by something unpleasant, painful, or unwanted
Full Definition of free
freed
freeing
transitive verb
1 a : to cause to be free b : to relieve or rid of what restrains, confines, restricts, or embarrasses <free a person from debt> —often used with up <free up space on the hard drive> c : disentangle, clear
2 obsolete : banish
freer
nounExamples of free in a sentence
The gunman freed two of the hostages.
The animals were freed from their cages.
His legs became tangled in the net, and he was unable to free himself.
He was unable to free his legs from the net.
The animal struggled to free itself from the trap.
Hiring an assistant has freed him to spend more time with his family.
She encourages her students to free their imaginations.
Before 12th Century
First Known Use of free
before 12th century
Synonym Discussion of free
free
Simple Definition of free
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: in a free way
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: without charge : at no cost
Full Definition of free
1 : in a free manner
2 : without charge
3 : with the wind more than six points from dead ahead <sailing free>
Examples of free in a sentence
The gate opened, and the animals ran free.
Buy one, get one free.
1559
First Known Use of free
1559
FREE Defined for Kids
Definition of free for Students
freer
\ˈfrē-ər\freest
\ˈfrē-əst\1 : given without charge <a free ticket>
2 : having liberty : not being a slave or prisoner <free citizens>
3 : not controlled by a harsh ruler or laws <a free country>
4 : not physically held by something <… his utmost efforts could lift the gate free. — Dick King-Smith, Pigs Might Fly>
5 : not having or suffering from something unpleasant, unwanted, or painful <free from worry>
6 : not held back by fear or uncertainty <Feel free to ask questions.>
7 : not blocked <The road was free of traffic.>
8 : not required to be doing something <See me when you're free.>
freely
adverbMedical Dictionary
free
playMedical Definition of free
freer
;freest
1a: relieved from or lacking something and especially something unpleasant or burdensome <free from pain>b: not bound or confined by force <upon opening the skull a considerable amount of free blood is noted—H. G. Armstrong>
2a (1): not united with, attached to, combined with, or mixed with something else <a free surface of a bodily part> (2): having the bare axon exposed in tissue <a free nerve ending>b: not chemically combined <free calcium>c: not permanently attached but able to move about <a free electron in a metal>
3: having all living connections severed before removal to another site <a free graft> <research…in free flap transfers—B. R. Alford>
Law Dictionary
free
Legal Definition of free
1a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty <a free people> c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination <these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent States — Declaration of Independence> d : not subject to the control or domination of another
2 : made or done as a matter of choice and right : not compelled or restricted <no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof — U.S. Constitution amend. I> <a free and voluntary confession>
3 : relieved from or lacking a burden (as a lien or other encumbrance on title) <a buyer in ordinary course of business…takes free of a security interest created by the buyer's seller — Uniform Commercial Code>
4 : not bound, confined, or detained by force <free on bail>
5a : having no trade restrictions b : not subject to government regulation c of foreign exchange : not subject to restriction or official control
6 : not costing or charging anything
freely
adverbfor free
: without charge
free
Legal Definition of free
freed
freeing
1 : to cause to be free
2 : to relieve or rid of what constrains, confines, restricts, or burdens
Learn More about free
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