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   Free

   /frē/

   

   adjective

   • 1. not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes: "I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free"
   • ▪ able or permitted to take a specified action: "you are free to leave" Similar able toin a position tocapable ofallowedpermittedunrestrictedOpposite unable
   • ▪ (of a state or its citizens or institutions) subject neither to foreign domination nor to despotic government: "a free press" Similar independentself-governingself-governedself-rulingself-legislatingself-determiningself-directingnonalignedsovereignautonomousautarkicdemocraticemancipatedenfranchisedself-sufficienthistorical:manumittedOpposite dependent
   • ▪ not a slave: historical "the poor among the free men joined the slaves against the rich"
   • ▪ denoting an ethnic or political group actively opposing an occupying or invading force, in particular the groups that continued resisting the Germans in World War II after the fall of their countries: "the Free Dutch, Free Polish, and Free Norwegian fleets"
   • 2. not or no longer confined or imprisoned: "the researchers set the birds free" Similar on the looseat libertyat largelooseunconfinedunbounduntiedunchaineduntetheredunshackledunfetteredunrestrainedunsecuredOpposite captive
   • ▪ not physically restrained, obstructed, or fixed; unimpeded: "she smiled, leaned back, and waved a free arm in the air" Similar unobstructedunimpededunrestrictedunhamperedunlimitedclearopenunblockedunattachedunfastenedunsecuredunhitcheduntieduncouplednot fixeddetachedlooseOpposite obstructedattached
   • ▪ (of power or energy) disengaged or available.
   • ▪ not bound in an atom, a molecule, or a compound: "the atmosphere of that time contained virtually no free oxygen"
   • ▪ (of a morpheme) able to occur in isolation.
   • 3. not subject to or constrained by engagements or obligations: "she spent her free time shopping" Similar unoccupiednot at worknot workingnot busynot tied upbetween appointmentsoff dutyoff workoffon leaveon annual leaveidleat leisurewith time on one's handswith time to spareavailablecontactableon holidayOpposite occupiedunavailable
   • ▪ (of a facility or piece of equipment) not occupied or in use: "the bathroom was free" Similar vacantemptyavailablespareunoccupieduntakenunfilledunusednot in useuninhabitedtenantlessinformal:up for grabsOpposite occupiedengagedtaken
   • 4. not subject to or affected by (a specified thing, typically an undesirable one): "membership is free of charge" Similar unencumbered byunaffected byclear ofwithoutdevoid oflacking inexempt fromnot liable tosafe fromimmune torelieved ofreleased fromexcused ofexempted fromrid ofinformal:sansminusOpposite encumbered by
   • 5. given or available without charge: "free healthcare" Similar without chargefree of chargefor nothingcomplimentarygratisgratuitousat no costinformal:for freeon the houseOpposite paid forexpensive
   • 6. using or expending something without restraint; lavish: "she was always free with her money" Similar generouslavishliberalopenhandedunstintinggivingmunificentbountifulbounteouscharitableextravagantprodigal
   • ▪ frank or unrestrained in speech, expression, or action: "he was free in his talk of revolution" Similar easygoingfree and easytolerantliberalpermissiveindulgentrelaxedcasualinformalunceremoniousunforcednaturalopenfrankspontaneousuninhibitedartlessingenuousgood-humoredaffablefriendlyinformal:laid-backunflappableOpposite strainedformal
   • ▪ overfamiliar or forward in manner. archaic Similar impudentimpertinentdisrespectfulfamiliaroverfamiliarover-freepresumptuousforwardboldassertiveinformal:cheekycockypushyOpposite polite
   • 7. (of a literary style) not observing the strict laws of form.
   • ▪ (of a translation) conveying only the broad sense; not literal.
   • 8. (of the wind) blowing from a favorable direction to the side or stern of a vessel.

   adverb

   • 1. without cost or payment: "ladies were admitted free" Similar without chargefree of chargefor nothingcomplimentarygratisgratuitousat no costinformal:for freeon the houseOpposite paid forexpensive
   • 2. with the sheets eased: "I kept her off the wind and sailing free until I had all square forward"

   verb

   • 1. release from captivity, confinement, or slavery: "they were freed from jail" Similar releaseliberatedischargeemancipateset freelet goset at libertyset looselet looseturn loosedeliveruntieunchainunfetterunshackleunmanacleuncageunleashsparepardonreprieveclearinformal:let offlet off the hookliterary:disenthrallhistorical:manumitOpposite confinelock up
   • ▪ release from physical obstruction, restraint, or entanglement: "I had to tug hard and at last freed him" Similar extricateextractdisentangledisentwinedisengagedisencumberloosenreleaseremoveget outpull outpull freeget looseget freerescueset freeOpposite trap
   • ▪ remove something undesirable or restrictive from: "his inheritance freed him from financial constraints" Similar exemptmake exemptexceptexcuseabsolverelieve ofabsolve ofunburden ofdisburden ofstrip ofrare:dispense from
   • ▪ make available for a particular purpose: "this will free up funds for development elsewhere"

   Word Origin Old Englishfrēo (adjective), frēon (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vrij and German frei, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love’, shared by friend.

   Derivatives

   • 1. freeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • F

     4

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • E

     1

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