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Definition of free
freer
;freest
1a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen setting the slave freeb : enjoying civil and political liberty free citizensc : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination This is a free country.d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another You are free to do whatever you want.
2a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself a player free to negotiate a contract with any teamb : determined by the choice of the actor or performer free actionsc : made, done, or given voluntarily or spontaneously gave his free consent
3a : 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-freeb : not bound, confined, or detained by force The prisoner is now free.
4a : having no trade restrictions duty-free importsb : not subject to government regulation free competitionc of foreign exchange : not subject to restriction or official control
5a : having no obligations (as to work) or commitments I'll be free this eveningb : not taken up with commitments or obligations a free evening
6 : having a scope not restricted by qualification a free variable
7a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded free to leaveb : not being used or occupied waved with his free handc : not hampered or restricted in its normal operation
8a : not fastened the free end of the ropeb : 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. Stewartc : capable of moving or turning in any direction a free particled : performed without apparatus free tumblinge : done with artificial aids (such as pitons) used only for protection against falling and not for support a free climb
for free
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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.
Recent Examples of free from the Web
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The drummers were actually exercisers who had gathered outside the building for a free class being put on by the center, with help from the YMCA of Greater Louisville, as part of the Fit Tuesday series.
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Once free, he was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore by Maryland State Police Medevac.
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Cost is $20, children 12 and younger eat free with a paying adult.
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Here’s a list of all of the free museum days for the month of July.
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Sign up today for a 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.
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Sign up today for a 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.
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Sign up today for a 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.
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Sandpipers with oil on their wingtips and tails—less than 20% of their body—consumed 22% more energy than oil-free birds, the team reports today in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'free'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Synonym Discussion of free
free
Definition of free
freed
;freeing
transitive verb
1a : to cause to be freeb : 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 drivec : 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.
Recent Examples of free from the Web
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One of history’s ironies is that, even though New England birthed the abolition movement, many of Boston’s most prominent families offered less than total support for freeing the slaves.
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The pixel-density math of the 2224 x 1668 display frees developers from rewriting their apps or risking blurry images because the ratios remain the same.
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In London, nearly 1,000 soldiers were sent onto the streets to help free up police.
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For bigger shows, a camera or a light could get moved from a seating area to the floor, freeing up a handful of seats.
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Instead, victims have to wait and hope WannaCry’s developers will remotely free the hostage computer over the internet.
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Despite the rigid formal etiquette, the purpose of these chicken-and-booze excursions was to release Koreans from their place in the hierarchy and free them to be spontaneous.
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The whole thing was freeing, not just because I was physically liberated from the shackles of underwire, thongs, and control-top pantyhose.
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For some women free love was probably freeing, for others more of a trap.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'free'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of free
see 1free
Synonym Discussion of free
free
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.
Origin and Etymology of free
see 1free
FREE Defined for English Language Learners
free
playDefinition of free for English Language Learners
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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
free
Definition of free for English Language Learners
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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
free
Definition of free for English Language Learners
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: in a free way
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: without charge : at no cost
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 painb: 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 endingb: not chemically combined free calciumc: 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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See words that rhyme with free Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for free Spanish Central: Translation of free Nglish: Translation of free for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of free for Arabic speakers
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