verb

liberate

LIH-buh-rayt

verb

To set someone or something free from confinement, control, or oppression.

"Allied troops liberated the city after months of occupation."

"The charity works to liberate victims of forced labour."

To release a substance or energy through a chemical or physical process.

"The reaction liberates heat as the gases combine."

How to Use Liberate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo free someone or something — from captivity, oppression, or, in chemistry, to release a substance.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with deliberate — different Latin roots entirely, despite looking similar.

Easily confused with

deliberate →

Common pairings

liberate a country liberate energy liberate someone from oppression

Word Forms

liberated past tense, liberate past tense, liberate plural, liberated plural, liberates plural, liberates singular, liberated singular, liberate singular, liberatest singular, liberatedst singular, liberateth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Allied troops _____ the city after months of occupation.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin liberatus, "set free," the past participle of libero, "to free" — ultimately from liber, "free." Not related to deliberate, despite the visual overlap.

Synonyms

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befree free absolve deliver discharge disentangle extricate let go let loose loose release set free

Antonyms

capture confine imprison leash restrain

Related Words

free absolve can gratuitous give loose bound catch

Rhymes for liberate

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate

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befree free absolve deliver discharge disentangle extricate let go let loose loose release set free