release
To release something or someone is to set it free, like a caged animal or a prisoner. “I shall be released” is a famous refrain from a 1967 Bob Dylan song that has come to symbolize political freedom around the world.
Release, which is a noun and a verb, has many different meanings. As a noun, it can mean a liberation, an unfastening, or the condition of being made available, like a movie or a CD. “When is the new Spiderman movie being released?” you might ask your best friend. As a verb, it can mean to relieve of suffering or obligation, like a debt. But it can also mean to lay off from a job, or surrender. “Release me from having to watch this terrible movie!” you could end up saying about the 16th Spiderman sequel. And who would blame you?
-
grant freedom to; free from confinement
-
types:
- show 6 types…
- hide 6 types…
-
unspell
release from a spell
-
unchain
make free
-
bail
release after a security has been paid
-
run
set animals loose to graze
-
bail out
free on bail
-
parole
release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
-
release, as from one’s grip
-
synonyms:
-
types:
- show 16 types…
- hide 16 types…
-
discharge, muster out
release from military service
-
unclasp
release from a clasp
-
pop
release suddenly
-
toggle
release by a toggle switch
-
unhand
remove the hand from
-
bring out, let out
bring out of a specific state
-
unleash
release or vent
-
let loose, loose, unleash
turn loose or free from restraint
-
unleash
release from a leash
-
disengage, withdraw
release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles
-
deactivate
remove from active military status or reassign
-
demob, demobilise, demobilize
retire from military service
-
demobilise, demobilize, inactivate
release from military service or remove from the active list of military service
-
cannon
fire a cannon
-
uncork
release
-
unlock
set free or release
-
eliminate (a substance)
“the plant
releases a gas”-
types:
- show 25 types…
- hide 25 types…
-
cough out, cough up, expectorate, spit out, spit up
discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
-
blow
free of obstruction by blowing air through
-
abort
terminate a pregnancy by undergoing an abortion
-
ovulate
produce and discharge eggs
-
egest, eliminate, excrete, pass
eliminate from the body
-
bleed, hemorrhage, shed blood
lose blood from one’s body
-
eruct, spew, spew out
eject or send out in large quantities, also metaphorical
-
fester, maturate, suppurate
ripen and generate pus
-
breathe, emit, pass off
expel (gases or odors)
-
belch, bubble, burp, eruct
expel gas from the stomach
-
force out
emit or cause to move with force of effort
-
emanate, exhale, give forth
give out (breath or an odor)
-
cough
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
-
miscarry
suffer a miscarriage
-
flow, menstruate
undergo menstruation
-
perspire, sudate, sweat
excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin
-
exudate, exude, ooze, ooze out, transude
release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities
-
urinate
pass after the manner of urine
-
empty, evacuate, void
excrete or discharge from the body
-
ca-ca, defecate, make, stool
have a bowel movement
-
barf, be sick, chuck, disgorge, throw up, vomit, vomit up
eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
-
ptyalise, ptyalize, spew, spit, spue
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
-
spit out, splutter, sputter
spit up in an explosive manner
-
radiate
send out real or metaphoric rays
-
bubble
form, produce, or emit bubbles
-
generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
-
release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition
-
type of:
-
bring forth, generate
bring into existence
-
bring forth, generate
-
let (something) fall or spill from a container
-
synonyms:
-
types:
-
deflate
release contained air or gas from
-
throw
throw (a die) out onto a flat surface
-
shoot
throw dice, as in a crap game
-
type of:
-
channel, channelise, channelize, transfer, transmit, transport
send from one person or place to another
-
deflate
-
the act of liberating someone or something
-
synonyms:
-
types:
- show 12 types…
- hide 12 types…
-
jail delivery
the use of force to liberate prisoners
-
deregulating, deregulation
the act of freeing from regulation (especially from governmental regulations)
-
relief
the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged
-
disentanglement, extrication, unsnarling, untangling
the act of releasing from a snarled or tangled condition
-
emancipation
freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent’s relinquishing authority and control over a minor child
-
clearing
the act of freeing from suspicion
-
manumission
the formal act of freeing from slavery
-
parole
(law) a conditional release from imprisonment that entitles the person to serve the remainder of the sentence outside the prison as long as the terms of release are complied with
-
probation
(law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court
-
purgation, purge, purging
the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge
-
exoneration, vindication
the act of vindicating or defending against criticism or censure etc.
-
whitewash
a specious or deceptive clearing that attempts to gloss over failings and defects
-
type of:
-
accomplishment, achievement
the action of accomplishing something
-
a process that liberates or discharges something
“there was a sudden
release of oxygen”“the
release of iodine from the thyroid gland”-
types:
- show 7 types…
- hide 7 types…
-
emission
the release of electrons from parent atoms
-
photoemission
an emission of photoelectrons (especially from a metallic surface)
-
field emission
the emission of electrons that are stripped from parent atoms by a high electric field
-
photoelectric emission
the release or absorption of quanta above a certain energy level
-
radiation, radioactivity
the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay
-
secondary emission
the emission of electrons from a surface that is bombarded by higher energy primary electrons
-
thermal emission, thermionic emission
the emission of electrons from very hot substances
-
type of:
-
action, activity, natural action, natural process
a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
-
the act of allowing a fluid to escape
-
a device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism
-
the termination of someone’s employment (leaving them free to depart)
-
synonyms:
discharge, dismissal, dismission, firing, liberation, sack, sacking
-
types:
- show 8 types…
- hide 8 types…
-
superannuation
the act of discharging someone because of age (especially to cause someone to retire from service on a pension)
-
conge, congee
an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal
-
removal
dismissal from office
-
deactivation, inactivation
breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges)
-
honorable discharge
a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record
-
dishonorable discharge
a discharge from the armed forces for a grave offense (as sabotage or espionage or cowardice or murder)
-
Section Eight
a discharge from the US Army based on unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable
-
purge
an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place
-
type of:
-
conclusion, ending, termination
the act of ending something
-
euphemistic expressions for death
-
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
-
make (information) available for publication
“release the list with the names of the prisoners”-
synonyms:
-
types:
-
declassify
lift the restriction on and make available again
-
declassify
-
make (assets) available
“release the holdings in the dictator’s bank account”-
Antonyms:
-
block, freeze, immobilise, immobilize
prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)
-
block, freeze, immobilise, immobilize
-
merchandise issued for sale or public showing (especially a record or film)
“a new
release from the London Symphony Orchestra”-
type of:
-
merchandise, product, ware
commodities offered for sale
-
merchandise, product, ware
-
an announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation
-
synonyms:
-
type of:
-
announcement, promulgation
a public statement containing information about an event that has happened or is going to happen
-
announcement, promulgation
-
part with a possession or right
-
a formal written statement of relinquishment
-
types:
- show 5 types…
- hide 5 types…
-
exemption, granting immunity, immunity
an act exempting someone
-
fix
an exemption granted after influence (e.g., money) is brought to bear
-
official immunity
personal immunity accorded to a public official from liability to anyone injured by actions that are the consequence of exerting official authority
-
sovereign immunity
an exemption that precludes bringing a suit against the sovereign government without the government’s consent
-
testimonial immunity, use immunity
an exemption that displaces the privilege against self-incrimination; neither compelled testimony or any fruits of it can be used against the witness who therefore can no longer fear self-incrimination
-
type of:
-
relinquishing, relinquishment
the act of giving up and abandoning a struggle or task etc.
-
a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation
-
synonyms:
-
type of:
-
instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document
(law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
-
instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document
-
activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion
-
(music) the act or manner of terminating a musical phrase or tone
-
synonyms:
-
types:
-
explosion, plosion
the terminal forced release of pressure built up during the occlusive phase of a stop consonant
-
type of:
-
conclusion, ending, termination
the act of ending something
-
explosion, plosion