unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh 

unleashed; unleashing; unleashes

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.

Synonyms of unleash

• loosen
• release
• unlock

Examples of unleash in a Sentence

The storm unleashed its fury.

The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fitzpatrick has also unleashed a wave of spending in the race already, disbursing nearly $5 million, according to Federal Election Commission records. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Now, Lee’s forecasting that AI will unleash more radical changes inside the world’s companies than most CEOs expect — and this could reshape the competition between those two economies once again. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Drake’s promotion of Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) four months after unleashing three albums left many wondering whether a fourth LP was on the horizon. — Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Stopping the run is critical to unleashing the Giants’ pass rush. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unleash

• pastiche
• leash
• quiche

Kids Definition

unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh 

: to free from or as if from a leash

unleash a dog

the storm unleashed its fury