free rein

noun

: unrestricted liberty of action or decision
The studio gave the director free rein over the movie.

Examples of free rein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kyle Anderson could help with playmaking and defense, but his shooting shortcomings would give Wembanyama free rein. Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 13 May 2026 And the best part about this entire process is how Peloton gave me free rein to develop the line. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 May 2026 The only way to really get in touch with your body, according to this line of thinking, is to give your hormones free rein. Andréa Becker, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026 Michigan packed the paint on defense, basically giving the team that averaged the fifth-fewest three-point attempts in the country this year free rein from long distance, then daring Arizona to create inside. Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for free rein

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free rein was in 1635

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20rein. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster