liberate

verb

lib·er·ate | \ ˈli-bə-ˌrāt

liberated; liberating

Definition of liberate

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

Other Words from liberate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about liberate

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Other Words from liberate

liberator \ ˈli-bə-ˌrā-tər

\ noun

liberatory \ ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē

\ 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

Both idealized by Lawson (in their physical beauty) and pathologized by the culture (as symbols of violence or fear), they are largely liberated from the kinds of domestic circumstance and context in which Lawson tends to frame her women. — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, "Deana Lawson’s Kingdom of Restored Glory," 8 Jan. 2018 Different Experiences Netflix's hard-charging but open culture can be liberating to some employees and fear-inducing to others. — Joe Flint, WSJ, "At Netflix, Radical Transparency and Blunt Firings Unsettle the Ranks," 25 Oct. 2018 The idea of liberating Americans from the yoke of car ownership undergirds much of Lyft’s rhetoric around product development. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Lyft’s monthly subscription plan is now available nationwide," 16 Oct. 2018 In a meeting with top national security officials Tuesday, Trump stressed that U.S. troops can be involved in current training tasks for local forces to ensure security in areas liberated from the Islamic State, the official said. — chicagotribune.com, "Trump instructs military to begin planning for withdrawal from Syria," 4 Apr. 2018 In a meeting with top national security officials Tuesday, Trump stressed that U.S. troops can be involved in current training tasks for local forces to ensure security in areas liberated from Islamic State, the official said. — Washington Post, latimes.com, "Trump instructs military to begin planning for withdrawal from Syria," 4 Apr. 2018 Diane Halfin was born on New Year’s Eve 1946 in Brussels, just 18 months after her mother Lily Nahmias was liberated from Auschwitz, weighing just 49 pounds. — Alex Kuczynski, Town & Country, "Diane and Talita von Furstenberg Turn an American Empire into a Family Dynasty," 7 Feb. 2019 Naming these desires will liberate more of your life force to expend energy creating rather than concealing. — Bess Matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes October 29-November 4," 28 Oct. 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar have all gone home; Sweden, liberated from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ego, has prospered. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "The Danger of Overreacting to Brazil's Disappointing World Cup Exit," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'liberate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.