free in English
- free⇄adj. 1. not under another's control; not a captive or slave.
Ex. a free man, a free people, a free nation, free speech.
(SYN) independent.
2. not held back from acting or thinking as one pleases; having liberty.
Ex. She was free - free⇄adv. freely.
- free⇄adv. 1. without cost or payment.
Ex. Children under 12 can attend free.
2. in a free manner; freely.
Ex. The animals ran free around the farm.
3. (Nautical.) with the wind blowing favorably, not on the bow. - free⇄expr. for free, without charge or cost.
Ex. ... train passengers who sleep past their destination and get trundled back home for free (Punch). - free⇄expr. free and clear, (Law.) (of real estate) not encumbered by any lien, as a mortgage.
Ex. He's met his mortgage payments promptly--and now his home is free and clear (Wall Street Journal). - free⇄expr. free and easy,
a. free from constraint; natural; unaffected.
Ex. a free and easy manner, to act free and easy.
b. careless; slipshod.
Ex. He was criticized for his free and easy methods of research. - free⇄expr. free from (or of), without; having no; lacking.
Ex. free from fear, air free of dust. The industry has a statutory obligation to distribute gas free from hydrogen sulphide (Times Literary Supplement). - free⇄expr. free with, giving or using freely; generous, liberal, or lavish with.
Ex. free with one's money. He is too free with criticism. - free⇄expr. make free with, to use as if one owned or had complete rights.
Ex. Our uninvited guests made free with everything we owned. - free⇄expr. set free, to make free; let loose; release.
Ex. He set free the bear cub caught in the trap. - free⇄free, adjective, freer,freest,adverb, verb, freed,freeing.
- free⇄v.t. 1. to relieve from any kind of burden, bondage, or slavery; make free.
Ex. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves.
(SYN) liberate, emancipate.
2. to let loose; release.
Ex. He freed his foot from the vine that tripped him.
free in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
free in Marathi मराठी
free in Sindhi سنڌي
free in Tamil தமிழ்
free Deals on Amazon
Free
Part of Speech
Adjective, Verb, Adverb, Noun
Pronunciation
/friː/
Definitions
- Adjective: Not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.
- Adjective: Not held, tied, or restricted in any way.
- Verb: To release or liberate from confinement or oppression.
- Adverb: Without charge or payment; gratuitously.
- Noun: The state of being free from restrictions or limitations.
Usage Examples
- He was finally free to make his own decisions.
- The store offers free shipping on all orders.
- They freed the prisoners after the negotiations were completed.
Etymology
From Old English frēo meaning "not under control, free, noble, liberal," from Proto-Germanic *frijaz, meaning "beloved, free," from Proto-Indo-European *pri-, meaning "to love, to favor." The modern sense of "not constrained" developed over time.
Synonyms
- Independent
- Unrestricted
- Unconfined
- Liberated
- Gratis
Antonyms
- Bound
- Restricted
- Confined
- Imprisoned
- Dependent
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Gratis | /ˈɡɾa.tis/ |
| French | Gratuit | /ɡʁa.tɥi/ |
| German | Frei | /fʁaɪ/ |
| Italian | Gratis | /ˈɡɾa.tis/ |
| Portuguese | Grátis | /ˈɡɾa.tis/ |
| Russian | Свободный | /svɐˈbodnɨj/ |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 免费的 | /miǎn fèi de/ |
| Japanese | 無料 | /muryou/ |
| Korean | 무료 | /mu-ryo/ |
| Arabic | مجاني | /maʒˈaːniː/ |
| Hindi | मुफ़्त | /muft/ |
| Bengali | বিনামূল্যে | /bināmulye/ |
| Tamil | இலவசம் | /ilavasam/ |
| Telugu | ఉచితం | /uchitam/ |
| Malayalam | മुफ്ത് | /muft/ |
| Kannada | ಉಚಿತ | /uchita/ |
| Gujarati | મફત | /mafat/ |
| Marathi | मोफत | /mofat/ |
| Punjabi | ਮੁਫ਼ਤ | /muft/ |
| Odia | ମୁକ୍ତ | /mukta/ |
| Assamese | বিনামূলীয়া | /bināmūlyā/ |
| Maithili | मुफ़्त | /muft/ |
| Sanskrit | मुक्त | /mukta/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In American English, "free" is pronounced with a more open "e" sound compared to British English.
- In Australian English, the "r" sound in "free" may be slightly softer or more pronounced depending on the accent.
Historical Usage
The concept of being "free" dates back to the early days of human civilization, often associated with liberty and emancipation. In the Middle Ages, "free" had legal implications regarding serfdom and the rights of individuals within a feudal system. Over time, the term expanded to encompass broader social, political, and economic contexts, particularly during the Enlightenment and subsequent revolutions.
Cultural Nuances
Across cultures, the idea of "freedom" is highly valued and varies in meaning. In some cultures, freedom is a central tenet of national identity, while in others, it is seen as a privilege rather than a fundamental right. For example, the United States has enshrined the notion of "freedom" in its founding documents, while in some parts of the world, the struggle for freedom is an ongoing political issue.
More Information
The word "free" is one of the most widely used and impactful terms in the modern world, symbolizing liberty, autonomy, and rights. It is central to many political movements, from the fight for civil rights to anti-colonial struggles. In a more everyday context, "free" is used to describe anything provided without charge, highlighting its significance in both social and economic terms. Over time, "free" has also become associated with the idea of minimal restrictions, as seen in the concept of "free markets" or "free speech." It continues to shape global conversations around human rights, justice, and equality.