unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh How to pronounce unleash (audio)
unleashed; unleashing; unleashes
Synonyms of unleashnext

transitive verb

1
: to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
unleash the dogs
unleashing his anger
2
: to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
unleashed a superb shot … to earn his side a point.The New York Times
3
: to allow or cause (something powerful) to happen suddenly
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a flood/torrent of angry responses.

Examples of unleash in a Sentence

The storm unleashed its fury. The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This will immediately unleash your $150 in bonus bets. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025 The cyclonic storms went on to unleash torrential rains and catastrophic flooding – including, in one area, the second-wettest day recorded anywhere in history – across swathes of South and Southeast Asia. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025 And yet his father, Martin Jarvis (Jonathan Banks), the original magnate, reluctantly, almost as penance for unleashing this child unto the world, abets the sociopathy of his son. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025 Captain Jack discovers a way to turn the 456's communications back on them, unleashing a signal so lethal it's guaranteed to send them packing. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unleash

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unleash was circa 1671

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unleash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unleash. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

unleash

verb
un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh How to pronounce unleash (audio)
: to free from or as if from a leash
unleash a dog
the storm unleashed its fury

More from Merriam-Webster on unleash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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