liberate

1 of 2

verb

lib·​er·​ate ˈli-bə-ˌrāt 

liberated; liberating

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

ˈli-bə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

liberatory

ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

liberator

2 of 2

noun

lib·​er·​a·​tor ˈlibəˌrātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that liberates

came as a liberator against the … man, who for a century or two had imposed his military and economic will on these peoples

—Saturday Review

the aspect not simply of an earthly liberator but of a divine redeemer

—Maurice Samuel

Synonyms of liberate

Verb

• free
• release
• rescue
• save
• emancipate
• enfranchise
• loosen

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

Verb

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

Verb

His skepticism is enlightening, as few artists feel better positioned to discuss the gap between what looks threatening and what turns out to be liberating. —Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

The book moves through the lives and bodies of figures like Susan Sontag, Kathy Acker, Ana Mendieta, Nina Simone, and Malcolm X, thinking about the body as political, artistic, and liberated. —Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026

The smiles, according to experts on Buddhism and Buddhist art, suggest a realization of truth, and the legs represent a transition into action, to liberate all sentient beings. —Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 11 June 2026

After being transferred to Hirschberg to Bunzlau, he was liberated and returned to Romania before immigrating to Israel and eventually settling in South Florida. —Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Latin, from liberatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for liberate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

liberate

verb

lib·​er·​ate ˈlib-ə-ˌrāt 

liberated; liberating

: to set free

liberator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun