free
free
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "free" is /friː/.
Syllable Breakdown:
free: /friː/
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/iː/ - close front unrounded long vowel
Word Form Variations
Adjective: free (singular), freer (comparative), freest (superlative)
Verb: free (base form), frees (3rd person singular present), freeing (present participle), freed (past simple, past participle)
Adverb: free (often used informally as an adverb, e.g., "run free")
Noun: free (less common, usually in phrases like "the land of the free")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Not under the control or power of another; able to act or move without restraint.
Synonyms: independent, autonomous, unconstrained, unhampered
Antonyms: captive, enslaved, restricted, bound
Definition 2: Without cost or payment.
Synonyms: complimentary, gratis, gratuitous, unpaid
Antonyms: costly, expensive, paid, chargeable
Definition 3: Not occupied or in use; available.
Synonyms: empty, vacant, unoccupied, available
Antonyms: occupied, taken, busy, engaged
Definition 4: Unaffected by; exempt from something undesirable.
Synonyms: exempt, clear of, immune to, rid of
Antonyms: subject to, prone to, susceptible to, vulnerable to
Verb
Definition 1: To release from captivity, confinement, or restraint.
Synonyms: liberate, release, emancipate, unchain
Antonyms: capture, imprison, enslave, restrain
Definition 2: To remove an obstruction from; to make available or clear.
Synonyms: clear, unblock, disencumber, open up
Antonyms: obstruct, block, hinder, impede
Adverb
Definition 1: In a manner that is not restrained or restricted. (Often used informally or in specific phrases.)
Synonyms: freely, unrestrictedly, openly, loosely
Antonyms: restrictively, tightly, constrainedly, limitedly
Noun
Definition 1: The state of being at liberty; personal independence. (Often used in the phrase "the free" or "to set free.")
Synonyms: liberty, independence, autonomy, freedom
Antonyms: captivity, slavery, bondage, subjugation
Examples of Use
Books: "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." (Albert Camus, The Rebel, 1951)
Newspapers: "The new city initiative aims to provide free public Wi-Fi in all major parks by October 2024." (The New York Times, September 2024)
Online Publications: "How to get free samples of beauty products online." ( Bustle, May 2025)
Entertainment - Movies: "They say it's a free country." (Dialogue from Easy Rider, 1969)
Entertainment - Music: "I want to break free." (Lyrics from the Queen song "I Want to Break Free," 1984)
Entertainment - Television: "Admission to the museum is free on the first Sunday of every month." (Report on local news channel, WXYZ-TV, January 2025)
General Public Discourse: "I'm finally free of that old car; it broke down every other week."
General Public Discourse: "Is this seat free?"
General Public Discourse: "The politician vowed to 'free the economy from burdensome regulations.'"
10 Quotes Using Free
"The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free." (Maya Angelou)
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." (Nelson Mandela)
"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." (Albert Camus)
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." (Richard Bach)
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." (Voltaire)
"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." (Elmer Davis)
"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre)
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!" (Marcus Garvey, often popularized by Bob Marley)
"The law is reason, free from passion." (Aristotle)
Etymology
The word "free" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to ancient times!
In its earliest known use, in the Old English period (before 1150 AD), "free" (then spelled frēo or frīg) meant "not in bondage" or "exempt from". It described someone who was not a slave, who had personal rights and could act by their own will. Imagine a group of people in ancient times; "free" would describe the members of a tribe or clan who chose to be there, not those forced into servitude.
Interestingly, this original meaning is linked to an even older Proto-Germanic word, *frijaz, which meant "beloved" or "not in bondage." This suggests that the concept of being "free" was tied to being a cherished or respected member of a community, rather than being an outsider or enslaved person.
Over time, the meaning of "free" expanded:
By the mid-13th century, it started to mean "clear of obstruction," like a path being "free" to walk on.
Around 1300 AD, it began to describe being "unrestrained in movement."
In the late 14th century, it was used to talk about nations "not subject to foreign rule."
Surprisingly, the common meaning of "free" as "without cost or payment" only appeared much later, around 1580 AD. This likely developed from the idea of something being "free of charge," meaning it was exempt from the restriction of a price.
So, while today we use "free" for everything from "free samples" to "free speech," its very first sense was all about fundamental personal liberty and not being controlled by others.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Free
Free and easy: Relaxed and informal.
Free rein: Complete freedom of action.
Free will: The ability to make choices without being controlled by fate or external forces.
Free fall: A rapid and uncontrolled drop.
Free spirit: An independent or uninhibited person.
Set free: To release someone or something from captivity or restraint.
Get off scot-free: To escape without punishment or harm.
The land of the free: A poetic term for a country where people have great liberty (often refers to the USA).
Free lunch: Something obtained without effort or cost, often with the implication that it's too good to be true.
Free-for-all: A disorganized fight or chaotic situation involving many people.
To be free with one's opinions/advice: To offer opinions or advice readily and often without being asked.
Free as a bird: Completely without restrictions or worries.
To breathe free: To experience a sense of relief or liberation.
To make free with: To take liberties with something, often without permission.
Free hand: The authority to act as one wishes.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of free from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
