Dictionary

free en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

[fɹɪi̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
(Received-Pronunciation) audio
frē
/fɹi/ (General-American)
/fɹiː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/fɹɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijwaz Proto-West Germanic *friu Old English frēo Middle English fre English free From Middle English fre, from Old English frēo, frēoh, frī, friġ, frīoh (“free”), from Proto-West Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic *frijaz (“beloved, not in bondage”), from Proto-Indo-European *priHós (“pleased, loved”), from *preyH- (“to please; to love”). Related to friend. cognates, etc Germanic cognates include Scots fre (“free”), North Frisian frai, frei, fri, Frii (“free”), Saterland Frisian fräi (“free”), West Frisian frij (“free”), Dutch vrij (“free”), German frei (“free”), Low German free (“free”), Luxembourgish fräi (“free”), Vilamovian frȧj (“free”), Yiddish פֿרײַ (fray, “free”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish fri (“free”), Faroese fríur (“free”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃 (freis, “free”). Other cognates include Cornish rydh (“free”), Welsh rhydd (“free”), Latin propriō (“to appropriate”), Czech přát (“to wish; to favour”), Polish sprzyjać (“to favour, foster”), Serbo-Croatian прѝјати, prìjati (“to please, taste, suit; to be agreeable, relish”), Slovak priať (“to wish”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (friia, “good, pleasant”), Persian فری (fari, “beloved, dear; agreeable, pleasing”), Sanskrit प्रिय (priya, “beloved”). Germanic and Celtic are the only Indo-European language branches in which the PIE word with the meaning of "dear, beloved" acquired the additional meaning of "free" in the sense of "not in bondage". This was an extension of the idea of "characteristic of those who are dear and beloved", in other words friends and tribe members (in contrast to unfree inhabitants from other tribes and prisoners of war, many of which were among the slaves – compare the Latin use of liberi to mean both "free persons" and "children of a family").

Meanings

(qualifier:social) Unconstrained.
- There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […].” 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock:
- The country is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which encourages further economic integration with the E.U. It is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), which allows for the free movement of goods and services and enables cooperation across multiple industries between Iceland and the E.U. 2026 August 18, Tiago Ventura, “Iceland’s E.U. Referendum, Explained”, in TIME:
- Quickly, spirit! / Thou shalt ere long be free. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector. 2013 August 10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2023:
- He was given free rein to do whatever he wanted.
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Not imprisoned or enslaved.
- a free man
- Free Blacks
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Generous; liberal.
- He's very free with his money.
(obsolete, qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Clear of offence or crime; guiltless; innocent.
- My hands are guilty, but my heart is free. 1679, John Dryden, Oedipus: A Tragedy, page 59:
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Without obligations.
- free time
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ To be enjoyed by anyone freely.
- [Edmund] Burke continued to fight for liberty later on in life. He backed Americans in their campaign for freedom from British taxation. He supported Catholic freedoms and freer trade with Ireland, in spite of his constituents’ ire. He wanted more liberal laws on the punishment of debtors. 2014 July 5, “Freedom fighter”, in The Economist, volume 412, number 8894, archived from the original on 11 Mar 2023:
- Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free / For me as for you? 1590-2, William Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew, I, ii:
- a free school
(of a government, qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Upholding individual rights.
- This is a free country.
- the Free World
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ With no or only freedom-preserving limitations on distribution or modification.
- OpenOffice is free software.
(qualifier:social) Unconstrained. ▸ Intended for release, and omitting debugging diagnostics, as opposed to a checked version.
Obtainable without any payment.
- It's free real estate.
- Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete. 2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845, archived from the original on 04 Apr 2021:
- The government provides free health care.
(broadly, used in advertising) Obtainable without any payment. ▸ Complimentary.
- Buy a TV to get a free DVD player!
(abstract, of a functor F, of an algebraic structure) Unconstrained. ▸ In any of various technical senses generic, universal. ▸ Left adjoint to a forgetful functor G; such that any map f:X→G(A) induces a universal map ̄f:F(X)→A.
(abstract, of an algebraic structure, of an object) Unconstrained. ▸ In any of various technical senses generic, universal. ▸ Belonging to the image of some free functor.
(abstract, of a group, of an algebraic structure) Unconstrained. ▸ In any of various technical senses generic, universal. ▸ Having a set of generators which satisfy no non-trivial relations; equivalently, being the group of reduced words on a set of generators.
- The fundamental group of the figure eight is free of rank 2.
(abstract, of a module, of an algebraic structure, qualifier:commutative algebra) Unconstrained. ▸ In any of various technical senses generic, universal. ▸ Having a linearly independent set of generators (called a basis).
(abstract, of a variable) Unconstrained. ▸ Unconstrained by quantifiers.
- z is the free variable in #92;forallx#92;existsy#58;xy#61;z.
(abstract) Unconstrained. ▸ Unconstrained of identifiers, not bound.
(abstract) Unconstrained. ▸ (of a morpheme) That can be used by itself, unattached to another morpheme.
(physical) Unconstrained. ▸ Unobstructed, without blockages.
- the drain was free
(physical) Unconstrained. ▸ Unattached or uncombined.
- The door finally shook free of its hinges.
- a free radical
(physical) Unconstrained. ▸ Not currently in use; not taken; unoccupied.
- You can sit on this chair; it's free.
(physical) Unconstrained. ▸ Not attached; loose.
- Furthermore, the free anterior margin of the lobule is arched toward the lobe and is often involute[…] 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 7:
- In this group of mushrooms, the gills are free.
(physical) Unconstrained. ▸ Of a rocket or missile: not under the control of a guidance system after being launched.
Without; not containing (what is specified); exempt; clear; liberated.
- princes declaring themselves free from the obligations of their treaties 1679-1715, Gilbert Burnet, The History of the Reformation of the Church of England:
- One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
- We had a wholesome, filling meal, free of meat. I would like to live free from care in the mountains.
(dated) Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited.
- a free horse
(dated) Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; followed by of.
- He therefore makes all birds, of every sect, / Free of his farm. 1697, John Dryden, “Part 3, line 1245”, in The Hind and the Panther:
(UK, obsolete) Certain or honourable; the opposite of base.
- free service; free socage
Privileged or individual; proprietary.
- a free fishery; a free warren
(US, slang) Having oversteer.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
freest	Degree=Sup	lexicographic
more free	Degree=Cmp	lexicographic
most free	Degree=Sup	lexicographic
freer	Degree=Cmp	lexicographic

Synonyms

Translations (523)

pl wolny (unobstructed) · nds-de free (unconstrained) · zza serbest (unconstrained) · ar حُرّ (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · no åpen (unobstructed) · fa آزاد (not imprisoned) · li vrie (without obligations) · so xor (not imprisoned) · hi निर्बाध (unobstructed) · qu qispi (not imprisoned) · pl wolny (without) · ab аҭацәы (without obligations) · cs volný (not imprisoned) · de frei (without obligations) · pt livre (not imprisoned) · pl wolny (without obligations) · yua jáalkʼab (not imprisoned) · sq pazënë (without obligations) · he חָפְשִׁי (without obligations) · ang frēo (without obligations) · sw huru (not imprisoned) · ba -һеҙ (without) · vi tự do (unconstrained) · ia libere (not imprisoned) · pl bez (without) · mk слободен (not in use) · gl sen (without) · es libre (unobstructed) · fi -ton (without) · oc liure (not imprisoned) · bcl talingkas (not imprisoned) · az azad (not imprisoned) · es sin obstáculos (unobstructed) · sk slobodný (not imprisoned) · no fri (without obligations) · te విడుదల (not imprisoned) · dsb lichy (unconstrained) · wa libe (not imprisoned) · gd saor (not imprisoned) · hi निर्- (without) · udi азад (not imprisoned) · tr serbest (without obligations) · gu નવરું (without obligations) · pl swobodny (unconstrained) · mk без- (without) · ary حر (not imprisoned) · mk непречен (unobstructed) · nl -vrij (without) · hi बे (without) · bn মুক্ত (not imprisoned) · wal la'a (not imprisoned) · he חָפְשִׁי (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · eo libera (without obligations) · fi avoin (unobstructed) · da fri (unconstrained) · de frei (not imprisoned) · es libre (not in use) · ja そのままの (unobstructed) · ro liber (not in use) · fy frijlitten (not imprisoned) · fi vapaa (unconstrained) · nrf libre (not imprisoned) · hy ազատ (not in use) · fr libre (without obligations) · fi auki (unobstructed) · ro liber (unobstructed) · mi māhorahora (unconstrained) · bg незает (not in use) · tr serbest (unconstrained) · hi मुक्त (not imprisoned) · ga gan (without) · ur آزاد (not imprisoned) · nrf libre (without obligations) · el ελεύθερος (unconstrained) · kmr azad (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · no fri (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · no uten (without) · am ነፃ (not imprisoned) · he חופשי (not imprisoned) · et prii (not imprisoned) · ja 自由な (without obligations) · ba бәйһеҙ (not imprisoned) · az maneə törədilməmiş (unobstructed) · sd خلاصو (unobstructed) · ro liber (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · fr libre (mathematics: unconstrained) · cy rhydd (not imprisoned) · alt эркин (not imprisoned) · te నిబంధన లేని (without obligations) · he פָּנוּי (without obligations) · sga sóer (not imprisoned) · jra rơngai (not imprisoned) · ms bebas (not imprisoned) · fr libre (unconstrained) · pt livre (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · it libero (unconstrained) · fa بدون (without) · no fri (mathematics: unconstrained) · gl libre (without obligations) · ca lliure (not imprisoned) · dsb lichy (without) · fi riippumaton (programming: not bound) · nds-de free (without) · it free (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · pl wolny (not in use) · cmn 自由的 (unconstrained) · pl swobodny (unobstructed) · fr libre (unobstructed) · fi vapaa (mathematics: unconstrained) · ro slobod (not imprisoned) · ba буш (without obligations) · sv fri (unconstrained) · nl los (unconstrained) · pt livre (programming: not bound) · pt livre (mathematics: unconstrained) · ja 自由 (not imprisoned) · qu qasi (without obligations) · klw naloa (unconstrained) · bm hɔrɔn (not imprisoned) · sl prost (without obligations) · de -los (without) · bg неизползван (not in use) · ca desocupat (not in use) · sh voljno (unconstrained) · af vrye (not imprisoned) · nl loslopend (unconstrained) · kmr vebûyî (unobstructed) · kmr serbest (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · cmn 自由的 (without obligations) · gd saor (without obligations) · de frei (unobstructed) · cs svobodný (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · el ελεύθερος (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · bm hɔrɔn (unconstrained) · ko 자유롭다 (without obligations) · zza xoser (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · my အား (without obligations) · it libre (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · uk ві́льний (not imprisoned) · hi अपरमित (programming: not bound) · lv brīvs (not in use) · es libre (without obligations) · it brado (unconstrained) · sga sóer (unconstrained) · wal yeda (not imprisoned) · ml സ്വതന്ത്രം (unconstrained) · et vaba (without obligations) · ba хөр (not imprisoned) · fa بیکار (not in use) · hy ազատ (unconstrained) · sd فارِغ (without obligations) · cmn 自由的 (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ro liber (not imprisoned) · ro gratuit (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ja 自由 (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · zdj na nafasi (without obligations) · fi avoin (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ga saor (not imprisoned) · sh slobodan (unobstructed) · tt ирекле (not imprisoned) · ro neîmpiedicat (unobstructed) · fy frij (not imprisoned) · id tanpa (without) · sh bezobavezno (without obligations) · he חָפְשִׁי (not imprisoned) · sh slobodan (without obligations) · pap liber (not imprisoned) · pt livre (not in use) · zza berdos (without) · yi פֿרײַ (not imprisoned) · et vaba (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · te ఉపయోగించని (not in use) · id bebas (not imprisoned) · sl prost (unobstructed) · de frank und frei (unconstrained) · gl ceibo (not imprisoned) · sh povoljno (unconstrained) · pms liber (not imprisoned) · ia libere (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃 (not imprisoned) · sd کليل (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · et prii (unconstrained) · sga sóer (without obligations) · lv brīvs (unconstrained) · et takistamatu (unobstructed) · ba иркен (unconstrained) · it senza (without) · fr libre (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ckb سەربەست (unconstrained) · is frjáls (not imprisoned) · ro fără (without) · kmr serbest (not imprisoned) · no fri (not imprisoned) · gd saor (unobstructed) · th ว่าง (not in use) · arz حر (not imprisoned) · fi vapaa (not imprisoned) · no løs (unconstrained) · ro neîmpiedicat (unconstrained) · sv fri (not imprisoned) · dsb lichy (unobstructed) · sh bez- (without) · ckb ڕزگار (not imprisoned) · mk бес- (without) · sh slobodan (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · et piiramatu (unobstructed) · ur مکت (not imprisoned) · hi आज़ाद (not imprisoned) · pl swobodny (not imprisoned) · ro neocupat (not in use) · ar شَاغِر (not in use) · fi vapaa (without obligations) · ar بِدُونِ (without) · ca lliure (unobstructed) · la līber (not imprisoned) · no ledig (not in use) · tr boş (not in use) · ko 자유 (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · yue 自由 (not imprisoned) · az azad (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · te లేకుండా (without) · sl svoboden (not imprisoned) · fi selvä (unobstructed) · tt азат (not imprisoned) · zza azad (diq) (not imprisoned) · nl los (not imprisoned) · ar حُرّ (not imprisoned) · fa رها (not imprisoned) · it libero (without obligations) · mk слободен (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ko 자의 (without obligations) · ja 自由 (unconstrained) · tr gevşek (mycology: not attached to the stipe) · zza sıst (diq) (mycology: not attached to the stipe) · ug ھۆر (not imprisoned) · pt vago (not in use) · io libera (not imprisoned) · lt nemokama (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · cmn 自由的 (not imprisoned) · my အား (not in use) · no fri (unconstrained) · fr libre (not imprisoned) · it libero (not imprisoned) · az sərbəst (without obligations) · mnc ᠰᡠᠯᡶᠠᠩᡤᠠ (not imprisoned) · li vrie (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · bm hɔrɔn (without obligations) · ia libere (unconstrained) · da fri (not imprisoned) · da fri (without obligations) · fr disponible (not in use) · kmr vekirî (unobstructed) · fi esteetön (unobstructed) · ba азат (not imprisoned) · vo libik (not imprisoned) · lv brīvs (not imprisoned) · hu szabad (not imprisoned) · gmy 𐀁𐀩𐀄𐀳𐀫 (not imprisoned) · ga scaoilte (unconstrained) · sv fri (without obligations) · ko 자유적(自由的)이다 (unconstrained) · sd چٽل (unconstrained) · cs volný (mathematics: unconstrained) · hi स्वतंत्र (unconstrained) · crs lib (not imprisoned) · km សេរី (not imprisoned) · de frei (unconstrained) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃 (unconstrained) · sv fri (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · hi आज़ाद (unconstrained) · tl malaya (not imprisoned) · fi vapaa (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · kmr serbest (without obligations) · cy rhydd (unconstrained) · pt sem (without) · ga saor (without obligations) · fur libar (not imprisoned) · ru беспрепя́тственный (unobstructed) · hy արձակ (not imprisoned) · ko 막힘없다 (unobstructed) · fi vapaa (not in use) · as মুকলি (not imprisoned) · ba -һөҙ (without) · nl vrij (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · as মুকলি (unobstructed) · ms merdeka (unconstrained) · th อิสระ (not imprisoned) · az bağımsız (without obligations) · ga saor (unconstrained) · no ledig (without obligations) · be свабо́дны (not imprisoned) · fi -vapaa (without) · fi rajoittamaton (unconstrained) · nds fri (not imprisoned) · sq lirë (i/e) (not imprisoned) · de frei (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · hi निबंधन (without obligations) · cs volný (unconstrained) · ru свобо́дный (unobstructed) · hi मुक्त (unconstrained) · lmo liber (not imprisoned) · ru свобо́дный (not in use) · tr engellenmemiş (unobstructed) · it libero (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · de frei (not in use) · sh slobodan (unconstrained) · yi פֿרײַ (not in use) · lb fräi (not imprisoned) · it libero (unobstructed) · sq pafre (unconstrained) · sq lejuar (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · az boş (not in use) · no fri (without) · th ว่าง (without obligations) · eu aske (not imprisoned) · io libera (without obligations) · el ελεύθερος (not in use) · es despejado (unobstructed) · fi ilman (jotakin) (without) · mk слободен (without obligations) · eo libera (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · mn ᠴᠢᠯᠦᠭᠡᠲᠦ (not imprisoned) · li vrie (not imprisoned) · la līber (unconstrained) · cs volný (unobstructed) · zza xoser (not imprisoned) · ba буш (not in use) · hy ազատ (without obligations) · ug ئەركىن (not imprisoned) · de frei (without) · ml സ്വതന്ത്രം (without obligations) · bg свобо́ден (not imprisoned) · el ανεμπόδιστος (unconstrained) · tr özgür (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ml സ്വതന്ത്രം (not imprisoned) · eo libera (unobstructed) · hy ազատ (not imprisoned) · ga saor (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ru неза́нятый (not in use) · kmr aza (unconstrained) · kmr vekirî (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · hi बे- (without) · zza azad (diq) (not in use) · sh neograničen (unconstrained) · ht lib (not imprisoned) · ca lliure (without obligations) · es libre (not imprisoned) · fa آزاد (unconstrained) · grc ἐλεύθερος (not imprisoned) · gl libre (not imprisoned) · el ελεύθερος (without obligations) · bn আজাদ (not imprisoned) · hu szabad (mathematics: unconstrained) · az zəif (mycology: not attached to the stipe) · am ነፃ (unconstrained) · ka თავისუფალი (not imprisoned) · cs volný (without obligations) · cs svobodný (not imprisoned) · roa-tar lìbbere (not imprisoned) · es libre (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ia franc (unconstrained) · hi बेकार (not in use) · et vaba (unconstrained) · ro nelegat (mathematics: unconstrained) · fa آزاد (not in use) · pt livre (unconstrained) · io libera (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · mi māhorahora (without obligations) · sh slobodan (not imprisoned) · ckb ئازاد (not imprisoned) · tt бәйсез (not imprisoned) · pl wolny (unconstrained) · ga éasca (unconstrained) · rup lefter (not imprisoned) · cmn 空閒 /空閑 /空闲 (without obligations) · sv fri (without) · be во́льны (not imprisoned) · pl wolny (not imprisoned) · he בְּלְי (without) · he חופשי (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · vi tự do (not imprisoned) · fr sans (without) · nrf libre (not in use) · sh otvoren (unobstructed) · ru свобо́дный (without obligations) · hu szabad (without obligations) · yi פֿרײַ (unconstrained) · fo frælsur (not imprisoned) · he פָּנוּי (unconstrained) · nds-de free (not imprisoned) · dsb lichy (without obligations) · ar بِغَيْرِ (without) · kmr berdayî (unconstrained) · io libera (unobstructed) · nds-de free (unobstructed) · arz حر (unconstrained) · yi פֿרײַ (without obligations) · io libera (unconstrained) · uk свобі́дний (not imprisoned) · ar حُرّ (unconstrained) · mn чөлөөт (not imprisoned) · ro liber (mathematics: unconstrained) · sv ledig (not in use) · nrf libre (unobstructed) · lez азад (not imprisoned) · ca lliure (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ru во́льный (not imprisoned) · hi रिहा (not imprisoned) · ia franc (unobstructed) · mi herekore (not imprisoned) · az sərbəst (unconstrained) · cs prostý (without) · kmr rizgar (not imprisoned) · yi פֿרײַ (unobstructed) · ba -һоҙ (without) · pl wolny (mathematics: unconstrained) · sq lirë (unobstructed) · tr zorunsuz (without obligations) · no fri (unobstructed) · izh vappaa (not imprisoned) · ca lliure (unconstrained) · nl vrij (unobstructed) · ru свобо́дный (unconstrained) · de unbesetzt (not in use) · vi rảnh (without obligations) · roa-leo ḷḷibru (not imprisoned) · el ελεύθερος (not imprisoned) · zza bêkar (not in use) · nl vrij (without obligations) · gl libre (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ba -һыҙ (without) · eo libera (unconstrained) · my လွတ်လပ် (without) · hi असीम (programming: not bound) · id bebas (without) · ia libere (without obligations) · cmn 通暢的 /通畅的 (unobstructed) · te పరిమితి లేని (programming: not bound) · ang unċīepe (unconstrained) · nl vrij (unconstrained) · sd واندو (without obligations) · lv brīvs (without obligations) · sq pa u zan (without obligations) · ko 자유 (not imprisoned) · de freimütig (unconstrained) · de -frei (without) · mi māhorahora (unobstructed) · sq falas (unconstrained) · sa मुक्त (not imprisoned) · sk voľný (not imprisoned) · hi निस्- (without) · ms tanpa (without) · nl vrije (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · cs volný (not in use) · nl open (unobstructed) · nl vrij (not imprisoned) · ru свобо́дный (not imprisoned) · li vrie (unconstrained) · bm hɔrɔn (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · tt хөр (not imprisoned) · eo libera (not imprisoned) · lt laisvas (not imprisoned) · ro liber (unconstrained) · kmr azad (without obligations) · te ఉచిత దిగుమతి (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · ast llibre (not imprisoned) · cmn 順暢的 /顺畅的 (unobstructed) · rgn lèbar (not imprisoned) · nl ongedwongen (without obligations) · hi स्वतंत्र (not imprisoned) · el ελεύθερος (unobstructed) · tab азад (not imprisoned) · ast llibre (unconstrained) · li vrie (unobstructed) · et vaba (not imprisoned) · nrf libre (unconstrained) · sv -fri (without) · vi rỗi (without obligations) · arz فاضى (not in use) · pt livre (unobstructed) · fi aukinainen (unobstructed) · de ungezwungen (unconstrained) · as মুকলি (unconstrained) · da fri (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · nds frii (not imprisoned) · gl libre (unconstrained) · ro liber (without obligations) · ru свободный (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · bg безплатен (software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement) · pt livre (without obligations) · zza veng (diq) (not in use) · sq pa (without) · ang frēo (not imprisoned) · te అడ్డగించని (unobstructed) · he פָּנוּי (unobstructed) · bg свободен (without obligations) · sd آزاد (not imprisoned) · fi irtonainen (mycology: not attached to the stipe) · ur سوتنتر (not imprisoned) · el ανεμπόδιστος (unobstructed)

free en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

[fɹɪi̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
(Received-Pronunciation) audio
frē
/fɹi/ (General-American)
/fɹiː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/fɹɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijwaz Proto-West Germanic *friu Old English frēo Middle English fre English free From Middle English fre, from Old English frēo, frēoh, frī, friġ, frīoh (“free”), from Proto-West Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic *frijaz (“beloved, not in bondage”), from Proto-Indo-European *priHós (“pleased, loved”), from *preyH- (“to please; to love”). Related to friend. cognates, etc Germanic cognates include Scots fre (“free”), North Frisian frai, frei, fri, Frii (“free”), Saterland Frisian fräi (“free”), West Frisian frij (“free”), Dutch vrij (“free”), German frei (“free”), Low German free (“free”), Luxembourgish fräi (“free”), Vilamovian frȧj (“free”), Yiddish פֿרײַ (fray, “free”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish fri (“free”), Faroese fríur (“free”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃 (freis, “free”). Other cognates include Cornish rydh (“free”), Welsh rhydd (“free”), Latin propriō (“to appropriate”), Czech přát (“to wish; to favour”), Polish sprzyjać (“to favour, foster”), Serbo-Croatian прѝјати, prìjati (“to please, taste, suit; to be agreeable, relish”), Slovak priať (“to wish”), Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (friia, “good, pleasant”), Persian فری (fari, “beloved, dear; agreeable, pleasing”), Sanskrit प्रिय (priya, “beloved”). Germanic and Celtic are the only Indo-European language branches in which the PIE word with the meaning of "dear, beloved" acquired the additional meaning of "free" in the sense of "not in bondage". This was an extension of the idea of "characteristic of those who are dear and beloved", in other words friends and tribe members (in contrast to unfree inhabitants from other tribes and prisoners of war, many of which were among the slaves – compare the Latin use of liberi to mean both "free persons" and "children of a family").

Meanings

Without needing to pay.
- Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributed free at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics. 1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, in Trains Illustrated, page 714:
- I got this bike free.
(obsolete) Freely; willingly.
- I as free forgive you / As I would be forgiven. c. 1601–1602, William Shakespeare, Henry VIII, published 1623:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
more free	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
most free	Degree=Sup		lexicographic

Synonyms

gratis · for free · for nothing

Translations (69)

ca de franc (without needing to pay) · tr bedava (without needing to pay) · nl gratis (without needing to pay) · lv bezmaksas (without needing to pay) · uk задарма (without needing to pay) · cs zadarmo (without needing to pay) · es gratis (without needing to pay) · eo senpage (without needing to pay) · es de fai (without needing to pay) · ga saor (without needing to pay) · ml സൗജന്യം (without needing to pay) · hi निःशुल्क (without needing to pay) · pl bezpłatnie (without needing to pay) · ca gratuïtament (without needing to pay) · bg безплатно (without needing to pay) · gd an-asgaidh (without needing to pay) · la grātīs (without needing to pay) · ru да́ром (without needing to pay) · ta இலவசம் (without needing to pay) · es de balde (without needing to pay) · kea fabal (without needing to pay) · ml സൗജന്യമായി (without needing to pay) · pl za darmo (without needing to pay) · cy am ddim (without needing to pay) · nv tʼáá jííkʼe (without needing to pay) · es de gracia (without needing to pay) · pdt emsonst (without needing to pay) · hu ingyen (without needing to pay) · hy ձրի (without needing to pay) · de umsonst (without needing to pay) · et tasuta (without needing to pay) · mi utukore (without needing to pay) · id cuma-cuma (without needing to pay) · tl walang bayad (without needing to pay) · es gratiñán (without needing to pay) · de gratis (without needing to pay) · id gratis (without needing to pay) · acw بِبَلاش (without needing to pay) · is ókeypis (without needing to pay) · fr gratis (without needing to pay) · sv gratis (without needing to pay) · hi फोकट (without needing to pay) · fr gratos (without needing to pay) · fi ilmaiseksi (without needing to pay) · mk бесплатно (without needing to pay) · nv tʼáadoo bą́ą́h ílíní da (without needing to pay) · es de yapa (without needing to pay) · yi בחינם (without needing to pay) · hi मुफ़्त (without needing to pay) · no gratis (without needing to pay) · uk безкоштовно (without needing to pay) · hy անվճար (without needing to pay) · tl libre (without needing to pay) · ca gratis (without needing to pay) · es gratarola (without needing to pay) · th ฟรี (without needing to pay) · pt grátis (without needing to pay) · it gratuitamente (without needing to pay) · zza berdos (without needing to pay) · te చెల్లించనవసరం లేని (without needing to pay) · ru беспла́тно (without needing to pay) · tl gratis (without needing to pay) · pt de graça (without needing to pay) · fr gratuitement (without needing to pay) · ckt эркуркэ (without needing to pay) · ar مَجَّانًا (without needing to pay) · pt gratuitamente (without needing to pay) · sq falas (without needing to pay) · da gratis (without needing to pay)

free en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

[fɹɪi̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
(Received-Pronunciation) audio
frē
/fɹi/ (General-American)
/fɹiː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/fɹɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From Middle English freen, freoȝen, from Old English frēon, frēoġan (“to free; make free”), from Proto-West Germanic *frijōn, from Proto-Germanic *frijōną, from Proto-Indo-European *preyH-, and is cognate with German freien, Dutch vrijen, Czech přát, Serbo-Croatian prijati, Polish sprzyjać.

Meanings

(transitive) To make free; set at liberty; release.
- Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society whose goal was to resettle freed slaves in Africa. 2025 July 9, Mitchell McCluskey and Larry Madowo, “Trump praises ‘good English’ of Liberian president, prompting criticism across Africa”, in CNN:
- Pro.[…]Spirit, fine ſpirit, Ile free thee / Within two dayes for this. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 5:
(transitive) To rid of something that confines or oppresses.
- Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to forswear travel; and if I perish I shall be at peace and shall rest from toil and moil." 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 564:
(transitive) To relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system.
- There is no way to access that original area of memory, nor is there any way to free it before the program ends. 2002, Jesse Liberty, SAMS Teach Yourself C++ in 24 Hours, page 148:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
frees	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic
freed	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
freed	Tense=Past	lexicographic
freeing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic

Deriveds

befree · free up

Synonyms

let loose · manumit · release · befree · unshackle · emancipate · unchain · liberate · unfetter

Translations (118)

sv frigöra (to make free, set at liberty) · sh ослобађати (to make free, set at liberty) · sh oslobađati (to make free, set at liberty) · mk ослободи (to make free, set at liberty) · lv atbrīvot (to make free, set at liberty) · pl oswabadzać (to make free, set at liberty) · ro slobozi (to make free, set at liberty) · sv frita (ga) (to make free, set at liberty) · de freisetzen (to make free, set at liberty) · hu szabadon enged (to make free, set at liberty) · sq liroj (to make free, set at liberty) · ga saor (to make free, set at liberty) · ur فرار (to make free, set at liberty) · ota صالمق (to make free, set at liberty) · tr serbest bırakmak (to make free, set at liberty) · sk oslobodzovať (to make free, set at liberty) · eo liberi (to make free, set at liberty) · da fritage (to make free, set at liberty) · ur آزاد (to make free, set at liberty) · he שִׁחְרֵר (to make free, set at liberty) · ca alliberar (to make free, set at liberty) · hi मुक्त करना (to make free, set at liberty) · th ปลดปล่อย (to make free, set at liberty) · af loslaat (to make free, set at liberty) · ja 解放する (to make free, set at liberty) · lt išlaisvinti (to make free, set at liberty) · nl laten gaan (to make free, set at liberty) · nrf libéther (to make free, set at liberty) · da befri (to make free, set at liberty) · ga fuascail (to make free, set at liberty) · sl osvobajati (to make free, set at liberty) · hu felszabadít (to make free, set at liberty) · no frigi (to make free, set at liberty) · it liberare (to make free, set at liberty) · ur پری (to make free, set at liberty) · no løslate (to make free, set at liberty) · no befri (to make free, set at liberty) · ota براقمق (to make free, set at liberty) · ckb ڕزگار کردن (to make free, set at liberty) · sh osloboditi (to make free, set at liberty) · yi באַפֿרײַען (to make free, set at liberty) · sv befria (to make free, set at liberty) · fa آزاد کردن (to make free, set at liberty) · nl loslaten (to make free, set at liberty) · et vabaks laskma (to make free, set at liberty) · hu szabaddá tesz (to rid of something that confines or oppresses) · ru освобожда́ть (to make free, set at liberty) · cy rhyddhau (to make free, set at liberty) · ia liberar (to make free, set at liberty) · sq ç'lir (to make free, set at liberty) · mi wewete (to make free, set at liberty) · bg освободя́ (to make free, set at liberty) · pl wyzwalać (to make free, set at liberty) · uk звільня́ти (to make free, set at liberty) · ko 해방(解放)하다 (to make free, set at liberty) · hu megszabadít (to rid of something that confines or oppresses) · da løslade (to make free, set at liberty) · bg освобожда́вам (to make free, set at liberty) · hu kiszabadít (to make free, set at liberty) · sk oslobodiť (to make free, set at liberty) · pt livrar (to make free, set at liberty) · pt soltar (to make free, set at liberty) · pl wyzwolić (to make free, set at liberty) · hu felszabadít (programming: to relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system) · sh ослободити (to make free, set at liberty) · sa मुञ्चति (to make free, set at liberty) · la līberō (to make free, set at liberty) · ru освободи́ть (to make free, set at liberty) · ang frēoġan (to make free, set at liberty) · af laat gaan (to make free, set at liberty) · id memerdekakan (to make free, set at liberty) · te విడుదల చేయు (to make free, set at liberty) · fr libérer (to make free, set at liberty) · ru вы́зволить (to make free, set at liberty) · mi whakawātea (to make free, set at liberty) · et vabastama (to make free, set at liberty) · nl bevrijden (to make free, set at liberty) · hy ազատել (to make free, set at liberty) · fa آزاد ساختن (to make free, set at liberty) · uk ви́зволити (to make free, set at liberty) · fi vapauttaa (to make free, set at liberty) · fr dégager (to make free, set at liberty) · gl liberar (to make free, set at liberty) · arz يحرر (to make free, set at liberty) · sl osvoboditi (to make free, set at liberty) · fi päästää vapaaksi (to make free, set at liberty) · lv atsvabināt (to make free, set at liberty) · el ελευθερώνω (to make free, set at liberty) · pl uwalniać (to make free, set at liberty) · he שיחרר (to make free, set at liberty) · ar حَرَّرَ (to make free, set at liberty) · be вы́зваліць (to make free, set at liberty) · mk ослободува (to make free, set at liberty) · oc desliurar (to make free, set at liberty) · mi kokiro (to make free, set at liberty) · id membebaskan (to make free, set at liberty) · vi giải phóng (to make free, set at liberty) · fi vapauttaa (to rid of something that confines or oppresses) · no frigjøre (to make free, set at liberty) · cs osvobodit (to make free, set at liberty) · pt libertar (to make free, set at liberty) · uk визволя́ти (to make free, set at liberty) · cmn 解放 (to make free, set at liberty) · ml സ്വതന്ത്രമാക്കുക (to make free, set at liberty) · de befreien (to make free, set at liberty) · ro elibera (to make free, set at liberty) · pl uwolnić (to make free, set at liberty) · fi päästää (to rid of something that confines or oppresses) · af bevry (to make free, set at liberty) · fr affranchir (to make free, set at liberty) · be вызваля́ць (to make free, set at liberty) · io libereskar (to make free, set at liberty) · eo liberigi (to make free, set at liberty) · uk звільни́ти (to make free, set at liberty) · cs osvobozovat (to make free, set at liberty) · pl oswobodzić (to make free, set at liberty) · ru вызволя́ть (to make free, set at liberty) · fi vapauttaa (programming: to relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system)

free en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

[fɹɪi̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
(Received-Pronunciation) audio
frē
/fɹi/ (General-American)
/fɹiː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/fɹɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Meanings

(abbreviation, alt-of, qualifier:Australian rules football; Gaelic football; Australian rules football; Gaelic football) Abbreviation of free kick.
alt of free kick
- Whether deserved or not, the free gave Cresswell the chance to cover himself in glory with a shot on goal after the siren. 2006, https://web.archive.org/web/20070614233634/http://www.footballlegends.org/daryn_cresswell.htm
A free transfer.
- Hargreaves, who left Manchester United on a free during the summer, drilled a 22-yard beauty to open the scoring. 2011 September 21, Sam Lyon, “Man City 2 - 0 Birmingham”, in BBC Sport:
(qualifier:hurling) The usual means of restarting play after a foul is committed, where the non-offending team restarts from where the foul was committed.
(abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Abbreviation of freestyle.
alt of freestyle
- The team won the 200 meters free relay.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
frees	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Translations (3)

ga poc saor (hurling) · de Freistoss (abbreviation of free kick) · fi vapari (abbreviation of free kick)

free en · NUM · etymology 4

Pronunciation

[fɹɪi̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
(Received-Pronunciation) audio
frē
/fɹi/ (General-American)
/fɹiː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/fɹɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Meanings

(alt-of, colloquial, pronunciation-spelling) Pronunciation spelling of three
alt of three

free en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

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Translations (523)

free en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

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Translations (69)

free en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

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Translations (118)

free en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

Meanings

Forms

Translations (3)

free en · NUM · etymology 4

Pronunciation

Meanings