free

1 not being under the rule or control of another the 20th century saw many African countries become free after many years of European rule Synonyms autonomous, freestanding, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, separate, sovereign (also sovran) Related Words freeborn; delivered, emancipated, freed, liberated, manumitted, redeemed, released; unconquered, unruled, unsupervised; empowered, enfranchised; democratic, republican Near Antonyms bound, captive, conquered, enslaved, fettered, subdued, subjugated; inferior, subordinate, subservient Antonyms dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree

2 no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful after our son arrived home safely, we were grateful to be free from worry Synonyms disencumbered, quit, shut (of), unburdened Related Words delivered, freed, liberated, released; unhampered, unimpeded Near Antonyms encumbered, handicapped, hindered, hobbled

3 not bound, confined, or detained by force all of the animals in the game preserve are free to roam all over its vast area Synonyms footloose, loose, unbound, unconfined, unrestrained Related Words escaped; uncaged, unchained, unfettered, unleashed; uncaught; unanchored, unbolted, undone, unfastened, untied; clear, disengaged Phrases at large, at liberty Near Antonyms caught; caged, chained, enclosed (also inclosed), immured, imprisoned, leashed, penned; anchored, bolted, fastened, fettered, manacled, shackled, tied; kidnapped (also kidnaped) Antonyms bound, confined, restrained, unfree

4 not costing or charging anything although the museum normally charges admission, on Wednesdays it is free to all Synonyms complimentary, costless, gratis, gratuitous Related Words nominal; bestowed, donated, given; pro bono; discretionary, freewill, optional, voluntary; honorary, uncompensated, unpaid Phrases on the house Near Antonyms paid; costly, dear, expensive, high

5 allowing passage without obstruction make sure the pass is free before you attempt the trip through the mountains this winter Synonyms clear, cleared, open, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstoppedRelated Words enterable, navigable, passable; emptied, empty, unoccupied, vacant; exposed, revealed; gaping, wide, yawning; unbarred, unbolted, unclasped, unfastened, unlatched, unlocked, unsealed; unbuttoned, unclenched, unfolded, unfurled, unzippedNear Antonyms impassable (also impassible); constricted, cramped, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), trammeled (or trammelled); barricaded, blockaded, dammed, gatedAntonyms blocked, clogged, closed, jammed, obstructed, plugged, shut, stopped, stuffed, uncleared

6 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation the lottery winner was very free with his money Synonyms bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, generous, freehanded, freehearted, fulsome, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstintingRelated Words extravagant, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse; altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical); big, greathearted, largehearted, magnanimous, openhearted; compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindly, samaritan, sympatheticNear Antonyms mean, petty, small; frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty; chary, stinting; acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious; begrudging, envious, grudging, resentfulAntonyms cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal [archaic], mingy, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous

7 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment this computer terminal is free if you need to use it Synonyms dead, dormant, fallow, inactive, idle, inert, inoperative, latent, off, unused, vacantRelated Words abeyant, arrested, interrupted, suspended; unoccupied; asleep, comatose, lifeless, moribund, quiescent, sleepy; inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless; dull, slowNear Antonyms functional, operable, operational, workable; assiduous, industrious, sedulous; energetic, vigorous; feasible, practical, usable (also useable), useful, viableAntonyms active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, going, living, on, operating, operative, running, working

8 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty she's a little too free with information about her social life Synonyms bold, familiar, forward, presumptuous, immodest, overfamiliar, presumingRelated Words arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic (also egoistical), egomaniacal, egotistic (or egotistical), highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, hoity-toity, important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-asserting, self-assertive, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious; cavalier, disdainful, haughty, lordly, pretentious, snobbish, stuck-up, supercilious, superior; audacious, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, cheeky, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, overbold, pert, sassy, saucy; confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; boastful, braggart, bragging; domineering, high-handed, imperious; self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-engrossed, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, selfish, self-obsessed, self-seekingNear Antonyms demure, down-to-earth, humble, lowly, meek, unassertive, unpretentious; bashful, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid, timorous; diffident, self-doubtingAntonyms modest, unassuming

9 not physically attached to another unit an arrangement of free columns adds interest to the Greco-Roman sculpture garden Synonyms detached, disconnected, discrete, separate, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnectedRelated Words independent, self-contained; individual, privateNear Antonyms adjoiningAntonyms attached, connected, joined, linked

1 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) a global crusade to free Nelson Mandela from a South African prison had emerged Synonyms discharge, disenthrall (also disenthral), emancipate, enfranchise, enlarge, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter Related Words bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save; adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate; unshackle Phrases turn loose Near Antonyms handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up); conquer, enslave, subdue, subjugate Antonyms bind, confine, enchain, fetter, restrain

2 to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions we'll free the river by breaking up the ice jam Synonyms clear, open, unclog, unplug, unstopRelated Words ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smoothNear Antonyms constrict, encumber, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), obstruct, trammel; barricade, blockadeAntonyms block, clog (up), close, dam (up), plug (up), stop

3 to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way would you mind freeing up the work area so I can work? Synonyms clear, open, unblockRelated Words ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth, unchoke, unclog, unplug, unstop; unclutter; stripNear Antonyms clog, close, dam, obstruct, plug, stop; clutter (up)Antonyms block

4 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers a phone call would free your parents from worry Synonyms clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, rid, relieve, unburdenRelated Words discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter; bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue; disengage, disentangle, extricateNear Antonyms bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)Antonyms burden, encumber, saddle

5 to set free from entanglement or difficulty this plan should free us from debt Synonyms clear, disembarrass, disengage, disentangle, extricate, liberate, release, untangleRelated Words deliver, redeem, rescue, save; disburden, disencumber, unburden; unravel, unsnarl, untie, untwineNear Antonyms block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct; burden, encumber, load, weighAntonyms embroil, entangle