released; releasing
1
: to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude
release hostages
release pent-up emotions
release the brakes
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
: to move from one's normal position (as in football or basketball) in order to assume another position or to perform a second assignment
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
b
: the matter released
especially
: a statement prepared for the press
re-leased; re-leasing; re-leases
: to lease again
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2023
His campaign released a video Monday that introduces Stoney as someone whose dedicated father and humble roots gave him the drive to succeed, and casting Youngkin as someone more interested in his own ambition than the good of the state.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023
Recently, the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego released its annual State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy report, which assesses the health of the local nonprofit sector and its ability to meet the needs of San Diegans.
—The Nonprofit Institute, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2023
The Chili Peppers released Return of the Dream Canteen — which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album sales chart upon release — in Oct. 2022, six months after dropping the Unlimited Love album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2023
Last year, a hacker released a huge trove of data from the game, including 90 videos of unfinished development.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023
Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation and Universal will release Trolls Band Together, the third film of the musical franchise, Nov. 17.
—Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023
In 2022, the band released their first music with returning guitarist John Frusciante since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Dec. 2023
He was released after last season, however, and signed with the Rams before training camp.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Xander Zellner, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2023
After Children on School Bus Were Kidnapped and Buried Underground, 14-Year-Old Miraculously Led Escape
The S-Town podcast was an early success upon its 2017 release.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 5 Dec. 2023
In the interview, Robbie — who is also a producer on Barbie — admitted that one of the producers for the Christopher Nolan film even called her to push back its release so the two wouldn’t coincide.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2023
But one thing that the actor thinks should never change is films getting a full release in theaters, which has grown increasingly rare with the advent of streamers and the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down cinemas.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Dec. 2023
Schools selected for the program receive a maximum of five trees, mulch, watering supplies, planting guidelines and training, according to the release.
—Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2023
He is also required to participate in programs for gambling addiction treatment and mental health treatment upon release, the documents show.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2023
Since then, his family has been pressing the U.S. government to secure his release.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2023
An unmanned aircraft system, or drone, was deployed into the home and found several people who appeared to be dead inside, the release said.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2023
Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023
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Verb
Now, in a study of mice and human samples, a team of scientists has found that S. aureus releases an enzyme called V8 protease onto the skin, which helps activate itch-driving neurons.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2023
His campaign released a video Monday that introduces Stoney as someone whose dedicated father and humble roots gave him the drive to succeed, and casting Youngkin as someone more interested in his own ambition than the good of the state.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023
Recently, the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego released its annual State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy report, which assesses the health of the local nonprofit sector and its ability to meet the needs of San Diegans.
—The Nonprofit Institute, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2023
The Chili Peppers released Return of the Dream Canteen — which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album sales chart upon release — in Oct. 2022, six months after dropping the Unlimited Love album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2023
Last year, a hacker released a huge trove of data from the game, including 90 videos of unfinished development.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023
Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation and Universal will release Trolls Band Together, the third film of the musical franchise, Nov. 17.
—Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023
In 2022, the band released their first music with returning guitarist John Frusciante since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Dec. 2023
He was released after last season, however, and signed with the Rams before training camp.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Noun
Her other albums in the top 10 are Midnights (No. 3), Folklore (No. 5), Lover (No. 6) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (No. 10), as Swift becomes the first living artist to place five albums in the top 10 simultaneously (since the survey combined stereo and mono releases in 1963).
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2023
After Children on School Bus Were Kidnapped and Buried Underground, 14-Year-Old Miraculously Led Escape
The S-Town podcast was an early success upon its 2017 release.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 5 Dec. 2023
In the interview, Robbie — who is also a producer on Barbie — admitted that one of the producers for the Christopher Nolan film even called her to push back its release so the two wouldn’t coincide.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2023
But one thing that the actor thinks should never change is films getting a full release in theaters, which has grown increasingly rare with the advent of streamers and the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down cinemas.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Dec. 2023
Schools selected for the program receive a maximum of five trees, mulch, watering supplies, planting guidelines and training, according to the release.
—Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2023
He is also required to participate in programs for gambling addiction treatment and mental health treatment upon release, the documents show.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2023
Since then, his family has been pressing the U.S. government to secure his release.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2023
An unmanned aircraft system, or drone, was deployed into the home and found several people who appeared to be dead inside, the release said.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2023
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
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'release.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of release was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing release
Dictionary Entries Near release
Cite this Entry
“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/release. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
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)
release
2 of 2 noun1
: 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 noun1
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 harmless3
: the act or instance of freeing especially from custody
More from Merriam-Webster on release
Nglish: Translation of release for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of release for Arabic Speakers
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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