release
noun · verb
Simple meaning
To let something go free, or to make something available to the public.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
reeleesSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ɹiˈlis
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
A catch on a motor-starting rheostat, which automatically releases the rheostat arm and so stops the motor in case of a break in the field circuit.
That which is released, untied or let go.
A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
software
The distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
The catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, triggered in the event of an overload.
verb
Let (something) fall or spill from a container
transitive
To let go of; to cease to hold or contain.
Make (information) available for publication
“Release the list with the names of the prisoners.”
Make (assets) available
“Release the holdings in the dictator's bank account.”
transitive
To free or liberate; to set free.
intransitive
To launch; to come out; to become available.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
Used this way, release is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use release
- “Release the list with the names of the prisoners.”verb
- “Release the holdings in the dictator's bank account.”verb
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland.
A substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland.
An announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation.
Of or relating to a preparation that gradually releases an active substance (especially a drug) over a period of time.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “release” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.