unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh How to pronounce unleash (audio)
unleashed; unleashing; unleashes
Synonyms of unleashnext

transitive verb

1
: to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
unleash the dogs
unleashing his anger
2
: to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
unleashed a superb shot … to earn his side a point.The New York Times
3
: to allow or cause (something powerful) to happen suddenly
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a flood/torrent of angry responses.

Examples of unleash in a Sentence

The storm unleashed its fury. The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.
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.
For CrowdStrike and Palo Alto, the overshoot can be attributed to Snowflake unleashing the IGV. Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 June 2026 But Brunson scored six points in the final five minutes of the third quarter, helping the Knicks unleash a 25-11 run and tie the game, 76-76, going into the fourth. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026 Fans carried brooms through Manhattan streets in anticipation of a Cavaliers sweep, climbed atop traffic lights while NYPD officers ordered them down and unleashed the kind of basketball pandemonium New York has waited decades to experience again. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 During extra time English striker Geoff Hurst unleashed a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced onto (or just behind, depending on your perspective) the goal line, and was cleared. Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unleash

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unleash was circa 1671

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Cite this Entry

“Unleash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unleash. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

unleash

verb
un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh How to pronounce unleash (audio)
: to free from or as if from a leash
unleash a dog
the storm unleashed its fury

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