release

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​lease ri-ˈlēs 

released; releasing

transitive verb

1

: to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude

release hostages

release pent-up emotions

release the brakes

also : to let go : dismiss

released from her job

2

: to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses

was released from her promise

3

: to give up in favor of another : relinquish

release a claim to property

4

: to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of

also : to make available to the public

the commission released its findings

release a new movie

intransitive verb

: to move from one's normal position (as in football or basketball) in order to assume another position or to perform a second assignment

releasable

ri-ˈlē-sə-bəl 

adjective

release

2 of 3

noun

1

: relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble

2

a

: discharge from obligation or responsibility

b(1)

: relinquishment of a right or claim

(2)

: an act by which a legal right is discharged

specifically : a conveyance of a right in lands or tenements to another having an estate in possession

3

a

: the act or an instance of liberating or freeing (as from restraint)

b

: the act or manner of concluding a musical tone or phrase

c

: the act or manner of ending a sound : the movement of one or more vocal organs in quitting the position for a speech sound

d

: the action or manner of throwing a ball

has a quick release

4

: an instrument effecting a legal release

5

: the state of being freed

6

: a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required

7

a

: the act of permitting performance or publication

also : performance, publication

became a bestseller on its release

b

: the matter released

especially : a statement prepared for the press

re-lease

3 of 3

verb (2)

(ˌ)rē-ˈlēs 

re-leased; re-leasing; re-leases

transitive verb

: to lease again

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• loose
• loosen
• uncork
• unleash
• unlock
• unloose
• unloosen

Noun

• delivery
• discharge
• quietus
• quittance

Choose the Right Synonym for release

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 release in a Sentence

Verb (1)

The hostages have been released.

The judge released the prisoner.

The lion was released from its cage.

There is a lot of controversy over whether or not wolves should be released into the park.

I released my son's hand, and he ran out onto the playground.

The factory faced serious fines for releasing dangerous chemicals into the river.

Heat is released into the atmosphere by cars.

During exercise, the body releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel better.

She started to cry, releasing all of her repressed emotion.

Exercise is a good way to release stress.

Noun

the release of the hostages

The prisoner is eligible for early release.

There was a controversy over the release of wolves into the park.

The prisoner was given an early release.

the release of heat into the atmosphere

Exercise triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that make you feel better.

an accidental release of pollutants into the river

They've filed a request for release from the contract.

They're requesting a release from their contractual obligations.

The release of the book is scheduled for next month.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her album My Stupid Life released earlier this year. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

One scenario is that volcanoes release chemical compounds called phosphides, which could react with sulfur dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere to form phosphine—a plausible explanation given that scientists have found evidence of active volcanism on our twin planet. —Elise Cutts, WIRED, 7 Apr. 2024

Katzir had been filmed alive twice in captivity, and his mother was released in November during a pause in fighting. —Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases March inflation data. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

The largest hostage release came on Nov. 24 during a pause in fighting in which 105 people were released, including 81 Israelis or dual Israeli citizens, 23 Thai citizens and one citizen of the Philippines. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024

Ballerini wrote the song alongside Lance Carpenter, Josh Kerr and Forrest Glen Whitehead, and after Ballerini released it as her debut single in 2014, the song became her first No. 1 Country Airplay hit. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2024

Relatives of previous victims and other locals are often vocal critics of releasing criminals. —Milana Mazaeva, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

The attack occurred on November 29, 2023, but police only released the video on April 1, 2024. —Peter Aitken, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

Noun

The head-on crash was between a pickup truck and a car, the release said. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024

Because of Calipari’s departure, the signees could request a release from their national letter of intent and explore other options. —Richard Davenport, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024

Bulgari Ten years ago, Bulgari forever changed the landscape of ultra-thin watchmaking with the release of the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, marking the thinnest tourbillon movement and thinnest tourbillon watch at the time. —Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024

The fan journey typically started with a film release, continued through in-home entertainment and was followed by consumer products and holiday sales. —Audrey Schomer, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

The post comes less than two weeks prior to Tortured Poets‘ April 19 release date. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2024

Their bodies were recovered either in the tanker or on the streambank, according to the news release. —Zoe Sottile, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

On Sunday, key lawmakers and industry leaders praised the proposal’s release, even as some already floated potential changes. —Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

The song earned its biggest daily tally upon release (March 23), raking in 4.7 million streams and over 1,000 U.S. digital sales. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024

Verb

The families protested as some had been waiting for their unit to be re-leased since 2019, so Lifespace later agreed that they will be paid either when their unit is taken over by a new resident or by 2025 at the latest. —Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English relesen, from Anglo-French relesser, from Latin relaxare to relax

Noun

Middle English reles, from Anglo-French, from relesser

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing release

• cytokine release syndrome
• general release
• on general release
• on work release
• pre-release
• press release
• release print
• re-release
• sustained-release
• timed-release
• time-release
• work release

Kids Definition

release

1 of 2 verb

re·​lease ri-ˈlēs 

released; releasing

1

: to set free (as from confinement)

release a prisoner

release a bird from a cage

2

: to relieve from something that holds or burdens

released from our promise

3

: to give up in favor of another : relinquish

release a claim to property

4

: to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of (as a movie or news story)

releasable

-ˈlē-sə-bəl 

adjective

release

2 of 2 noun

1

: relief or rescue from sorrow, suffering, or trouble

2

a

: a discharge from an obligation (as a debt)

b

: a giving up of a right or claim

3

: the act or an instance of setting free or letting go

4

: a document that contains a release

5

: the state of being freed

6

: a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required

7

a

: the act of permitting performance or publication

b

: the matter released

especially : a statement prepared for the press

Legal Definition

release

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​lease

released; releasing

1

a

: to relieve or free from obligation, liability, or responsibility

the debtor is released from all dischargeable debts

b

: to give up (a claim, title, or right) to the benefit of another person : surrender

2

: to set free from confinement

was released on personal recognizance

release

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: discharge from an obligation or responsibility that bars a cause of action

did not effect a release of the school for any negligence

b

: the giving up or renunciation of a right or claim that bars a cause of action

was a release of the remainder of the debt

Note: A release may in some situations require consideration in order to be valid. A release of one joint obligor sometimes is considered to release all the obligors.

2

: an act or instrument that effects a release

signed a release issued by the insurer

called also release of all claims

compare hold harmless

3

: the act or instance of freeing especially from custody