liberate

verb

lib·​er·​ate ˈli-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce liberate (audio)
liberated; liberating
Synonyms of liberatenext

transitive verb

1
: to set at liberty : free
specifically : to free (something, such as a country) from domination by a foreign power
2
: to free from combination
liberate the gas by adding acid
3
: to take or take over illegally or unjustly
… material liberated from a nearby construction site.Thorne Dreyer
liberator noun
liberatory adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for liberate

free, release, liberate, emancipate, manumit mean to set loose from restraint or constraint.

free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

Examples of liberate in a Sentence

Rebels fought to liberate the country. Soldiers liberated the hostages from their captors. Laptop computers could liberate workers from their desks. He was using materials that he had liberated from a construction site.
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.
He was recently knighted by Emmanuel Macron for helping liberate France during the war. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025 Liberation is funny, poignant and, yes, liberating in its expression of the very human need for justice and freedom in an era when those words have been co-opted by forces who value only self-enrichment. Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025 After all life involves balancing family, work, health, friends… Churchill often changed his mind during the war, and was willing to be argued out of his ideas like sending troops to liberate Norway in 1942. Nicholas Wright, Time, 28 Dec. 2025 The city was briefly occupied during the opening months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 before being liberated by Ukrainian forces later that year, a history Ukrainian officials say Moscow has repeatedly tried to obscure through disinformation. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liberate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin līberātus, past participle of līberāre "to give free status to (a slave), release from restraint," derivative of līber "free" — more at liberal entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of liberate was circa 1623

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Liberate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberate. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

liberate

verb
lib·​er·​ate ˈlib-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce liberate (audio)
liberated; liberating
: to set free
liberator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on liberate

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