free rein

noun

: unrestricted liberty of action or decision

The studio gave the director free rein over the movie.

Examples of free rein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its wire-free design also gives you free rein to clean all over the house without being tethered to an outlet. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Its hybrid analog-digital approach allows Alfa free rein to actualize his impulses, while the meditative atmosphere prompts reflection on where those impulses come from. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

The Sixteen camera merges the analog appeal of film with the instant digital playback of video, giving the filmmaker free rein to shoot with creativity while ensuring producers and editors will have immediate access to the digital images as dailies, for backup and quick editing. — Shirl Leigh june 15, New Atlas, 15 June 2026

Instead of fixing the trust fund, lawmakers could finance Social Security’s full benefits by giving it free rein to add to annual budget deficits in perpetuity. — Ben Ritz, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free rein

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign