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free

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See also:-free

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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FromMiddle Englishfree,fre,freo, fromOld Englishfrēo(“free”), fromProto-West Germanic*frī, fromProto-Germanic*frijaz(“beloved, not in bondage”), fromProto-Indo-European*priHós(“pleased, loved”), from*preyH-(“to please, love”). Related tofriend.

cognates, etc

Germanic cognates includeScotsfre(“free”),Saterland Frisianfräi(“free”),West Frisianfrij(“free”),Dutchvrij(“free”),Germanfrei(“free”),Low Germanfree(“free”),Luxembourgishfräi(“free”),Vilamovianfrȧj(“free”),Yiddishפֿרײַ(fray,“free”),Danish,Norwegian andSwedishfri(“free”),Faroesefríur(“free”),Gothic𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃(freis,“free”).

Other cognates includeSanskritप्रिय(priyá-,“beloved”).

Germanic and Celtic are the only Indo-European language branches in which the PIE word with the meaning of "dear, beloved" acquired the additional meaning of "free" in the sense of "not in bondage". This was an extension of the idea of "characteristic of those who are dear and beloved", in other words friends and tribe members (in contrast to unfree inhabitants from other tribes and prisoners of war, many of which were among the slaves – compare the Latin use ofliberi to mean both "free persons" and "children of a family").[1][2]

A sign advertisingfree beer (obtainable without payment). It is a joke: every day the sign is read, the free beer will be available "tomorrow" (therefore never).
A "buy one get onefree" sign at a flower stand (obtainable without additional payment).
This food product (half and half) is labelled "fatfree", meaning it contains no detectable fat.

Adjective

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free (comparativefreerormorefree,superlativefreestormostfree)

  2. (social)Unconstrained.
    Synonyms:unconstrained,unfettered,unhindered,quit
    Antonyms:constrained,restricted
    He was givenfree rein to do whatever he wanted.
    • 1610–1611 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act V, scene i]:
      Quickly, spirit! / Thou shaltere long befree.
    • 1899,Stephen Crane, chapter 1, inTwelve O'Clock:
      There was some laughter, and Roddle was leftfree to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up[…].”
    • 2013 August 10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, inThe Economist, volume408, number8848:
      Policing the relationship between government and business in afree society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector.
    2. Notimprisoned orenslaved.
      Antonyms:bound,enslaved,imprisoned
      Free Blacks
      afree man
    4. Generous;liberal.
      He's veryfree with his money.
    6. (obsolete) Clear of offence or crime; guiltless; innocent.
    8. Withoutobligations.
      free time
    10. To be enjoyed by anyone freely.
      afree school
    12. (of a government, country) Upholding individual rights.
      Synonym:nonauthoritarian
      Antonyms:unfree,authoritarian
      theFree World
      This is afree country.
    14. (software) With no or only freedom-preservinglimitations on distribution or modification.
      Synonyms:libre,free as in speech,free as in freedom
      Antonyms:proprietary,nonfree
      Coordinate terms:gratis,free as in beer
      OpenOffice isfree software.
    16. (software) Intended forrelease, and omittingdebugging diagnostics, as opposed to achecked version.
  4. Obtainable without anypayment.
    • 2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, inThe Economist, volume408, number8845:
      Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offeringfree education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.
    Synonyms:free of charge,gratis,costless,feeless;free as in beer
    Antonym:see atnonfree
    Coordinate terms:libre,free as in speech,free as in freedom
    The government providesfree health care.
    It'sfree real estate.
    2. (by extension, chiefly used in advertising)Complimentary.
      Buy a TV to get afree DVD player!
  6. (abstract)Unconstrained.
    2. (algebra, of analgebraic structure)In any of various technical sensesgeneric,universal.
      1. (most generally, category theory, of an objectF{\displaystyle F} in aconcrete category, with respect to a setX{\displaystyle X} and a mapi{\displaystyle i} fromX{\displaystyle X} to the underlying set ofF{\displaystyle F}) Such that any mapf{\displaystyle f} fromX{\displaystyle X} to the underlying set of an objectA{\displaystyle A} in the same category asF{\displaystyle F} induces a mapf¯{\displaystyle {\bar {f}}} fromF{\displaystyle F} toA{\displaystyle A} which is compatible withf{\displaystyle f} (i.e. such thatf=f¯∘i{\displaystyle f={\bar {f}}\circ i}).
      2. (group theory, of a group) Having a set ofgenerators which satisfy nonon-trivialrelations; equivalently, being the group ofreduced words on a set of generators.
        Thefundamental group of thefigure eight isfree of rank 2.
      3. (commutative algebra, of amodule) Having alinearly independent set of generators (called abasis).
    3. (logic, of avariable) Unconstrained byquantifiers.
      Antonym:bound
      z{\displaystyle z} is thefree variable in∀x∃y:xy=z{\displaystyle \forall x\exists y:xy=z}.
    4. (programming) Unconstrained ofidentifiers, notbound.
      Synonym:unbound
      Antonym:bound
    6. (linguistics)(of a morpheme) That can be used by itself,unattached to anothermorpheme.
  8. (physical)Unconstrained.
    2. Unobstructed, withoutblockages.
      Synonyms:clear,unobstructed
      Antonyms:blocked,obstructed
      the drain wasfree
    4. Unattached or uncombined.
      Synonyms:loose,unfastened;see alsoThesaurus:loose
      afree radical
    6. Not currently in use; not taken; unoccupied.
      You can sit on this chair; it'sfree.
    8. (botany, mycology) Notattached;loose.
      In this group of mushrooms, the gills arefree.
      • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster,The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.:Field Museum of Natural History,→ISBN, page 7:
        Furthermore, thefree anterior margin of the lobule is arched toward the lobe and is often involute[…]
    10. (military) Of arocket ormissile: not under the control of aguidancesystem after being launched.
  10. Without; not containing (what is specified); exempt; clear; liberated.
    Synonym:without
    We had a wholesome, filling meal,free of meat.  I would like to livefree from care in the mountains.
    • 1679-1715,Gilbert Burnet,The History of the Reformation of the Church of England:
      princes declaring themselvesfree from the obligations of their treaties
    • 1897 December (indicated as1898),Winston Churchill, chapter IV, inThe Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.:The Macmillan Company; London:Macmillan & Co., Ltd.,→OCLC:
      One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was notfree from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.
  11. (dated) Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited.
    afree horse
  12. (dated) Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; followed byof.
  13. (UK, law, obsolete) Certain or honourable; the opposite ofbase.
    free service; free socage
  15. (law) Privileged or individual; proprietary.
    Antonyms:common,nonproprietary
    afree fishery;  afree warren
Usage notes
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Antonyms
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The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. For synonyms and antonyms you may use the templates{{syn|en|...}} or{{ant|en|...}}.
Hyponyms
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The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. For synonyms and antonyms you may use the templates{{syn|en|...}} or{{ant|en|...}}.
Hyponyms
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Derived terms
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Related terms
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Translations
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not imprisoned
obtainable without payment—seefree of charge
unconstrained
mathematics: unconstrained
unobstructed
not in use
without obligations
software: with very few limitations on distribution or improvement
without
programming: not bound
mycology: not attached to the stipe
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Adverb

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free (comparativemorefree,superlativemostfree)

  1. Without needing topay.
    Synonyms:for free,for nothing,gratis
    I got this bikefree.
    • 1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, inTrains Illustrated, page714:
      Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributedfree at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics.
  2. (obsolete) Freely; willingly.
Translations
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without needing to pay

Etymology 2

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FromMiddle Englishfreen,freoȝen, fromOld Englishfrēon,frēoġan(“to free; make free”), fromProto-West Germanic*frijōn, fromProto-Germanic*frijōną, fromProto-Indo-European*preyH-, and is cognate withGermanfreien,Dutchvrijen,Czechpřát,Serbo-Croatianprijati,Polishsprzyjać.

Verb

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A painting depicting mythical Greek hero Perseusfreeing Andromeda, who was imprisoned by a sea monster

free (third-person singular simple presentfrees,present participlefreeing,simple past and past participlefreed)

  1. (transitive) To make free; set atliberty;release.
    • 1610–1611 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act I, scene ii],page 5:
      Pro.[…]Spirit, fine ſpirit,Ilefree thee / Within two dayes for this.
    • 2025 July 9, Mitchell McCluskey and Larry Madowo, “Trump praises ‘good English’ of Liberian president, prompting criticism across Africa”, inCNN‎[1]:
      Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society whose goal was to resettlefreed slaves in Africa.
  2. (transitive) Torid of something that confines or oppresses. [withfrom]
    • 1885,Richard F. Burton,The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 564:
      Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I mayfree me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire and I vow to Allah Almighty to forswear travel; and if I perish I shall be at peace and shall rest from toil and moil."
  3. (transitive, programming) Torelinquish (previouslyallocatedmemory) to thesystem.
    • 2002, Jesse Liberty,SAMS Teach Yourself C++ in 24 Hours, page148:
      There is no way to access that original area of memory, nor is there any way tofree it before the program ends.
Synonyms
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Derived terms
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Translations
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to make free, set at liberty
to rid of something that confines or oppresses
programming: to relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system

Etymology 3

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Noun

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free (pluralfrees)

  1. (Australian rules football, Gaelic football)Abbreviation offree kick.
    • 2006,[2]:
      Whether deserved or not, thefree gave Cresswell the chance to cover himself in glory with a shot on goal after the siren.
  2. (soccer) Afree transfer.
    • 2011 September 21, Sam Lyon, “Man City 2 - 0 Birmingham”, inBBC Sport‎[3]:
      Hargreaves, who left Manchester United on afree during the summer, drilled a 22-yard beauty to open the scoring.
  3. (hurling) The usual means of restarting play after afoul is committed, where the non-offending team restarts from where the foul was committed.
  4. (swimming, informal)Abbreviation offreestyle.
    The team won the 200 metersfree relay.
Translations
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abbreviation of free kick
hurling

References

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  • “free”, inOneLook Dictionary Search.
  1. ^Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “free”, inOnline Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^"frei" in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Anagrams

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Galician

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Verb

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free

  1. inflection offrear:
    1. first/third-personsingularpresentsubjunctive
    2. third-personsingularimperative

Low German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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FromMiddle Low Germanvrîe, variant ofvrî, fromOld Saxonfrī, fromProto-Germanic*frijaz, fromProto-Indo-European*priHós(“beloved”). CompareDutchvrij,West Frisianfrij,Englishfree,Germanfrei.

Adjective

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free (comparativefre'er,superlativefreest)

  1. (rather rare)free

Declension

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Positive forms offree
gendersingularplural
masculinefeminineneuterall genders
predicativehe isfreese isfreedat isfreese sündfree
partitiveeen Fre'eseen Fre'eswat Fre'esallens Fre'e
strong declension
(without article)		nominativefre'efre'efreefre'e
obliquefre'enfre'efreefre'e
weak declension
(with definite article)		nominativede fre'ede fre'edat fre'ede fre'en
obliqueden fre'ende fre'edat fre'ede fre'en
mixed declension
(with indefinite article)		nominativeen fre'e/fre'enen fre'een free/fre'et(keen) fre'en
obliqueen fre'enen fre'een free/fre'et(keen) fre'en
Comparative forms offree
gendersingularplural
masculinefeminineneuterall genders
predicativehe isfre'erse isfre'erdat isfre'erse sündfre'er
partitiveeen fre'erseen fre'erswat fre'ersallens fre'er
strong declension
(without article)		nominativefre'erefre'erefre'erfre'ere
obliquefre'ernfre'erefre'erfre'ere
weak declension
(with definite article)		nominativede fre'erede fre'eredat fre'erede fre'ern
obliqueden fre'ernde fre'eredat fre'erede fre'ern
mixed declension
(with indefinite article)		nominativeen fre'ere/fre'erenen fre'ereen fre'er(keen) fre'ern
obliqueen fre'ernen fre'ereen fre'er(keen) fre'ern
Superlative forms offree
gendersingularplural
masculinefeminineneuterall genders
predicativehe is deFreestese is deFreestedat is datFreestese sünd deFreesten
strong declension
(without article)		nominativefreestefreestefreestfreeste
obliquefreestenfreestefreestfreeste
weak declension
(with definite article)		nominativede freestede freestedat freestede freesten
obliqueden freestende freestedat freestede freesten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article)		nominativeen freeste/freestenen freesteen freest(keen) freesten
obliqueen freestenen freesteen freest(keen) freesten
Note: This declension is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Derived terms

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