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Definition of releasenext
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release

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noun

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as in discharge
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in waiver
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb release differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of release are emancipate, free, liberate, and manumit. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

In what contexts can emancipate take the place of release?

The meanings of emancipate and release largely overlap; however, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

When would free be a good substitute for release?

The words free and release can be used in similar contexts, but free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When might liberate be a better fit than release?

While in some cases nearly identical to release, liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When is manumit a more appropriate choice than release?

Although the words manumit and release have much in common, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of release
Verb
No release information has been announced for the Public School x Air Jordan 15 and Air Max Goadome Cowboy Boot, but they are expected to release as part of the brand’s fall 2026 collection. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026 The mission was one of five awarded in 2023 to ULA under the NSSF Phase 2 task orders worth $566 million, but the individual value was not released by the DOD. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Rivers used her professional connection with Event Décor Direct in Deerfield Beach to take money from the event decoration business over a three-month period in 2025, in part by making dozens of fraudulent transactions and credit card purchases, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 Several news outlets have also reported receiving possible a ransom note requesting money in exchange for Nancy Guthrie’s release. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for release
Recent Examples of Synonyms for release
Verb
  • In response, her government unleashed a brutal and bloody crackdown that only galvanized the movement and brought more people onto the streets.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The Seattle Seahawks delivered an all-time performance in their 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, unleashing a ferocious pass rush to torment quarterback Drake Maye all night.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • People both young and old, lonely and less lonely, those blessed with a family home, and even couples freed up the tram for us.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Lilia, her mother and her aunt try to free a bird that has made its way into the house.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And when that happens, stool, fluids, and gas get shuttled toward your rectum, from where they can be liberated into the free world.
    Julia Ries Wexler, SELF, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Milan marked that day by naming a prominent square in the city’s center April 25 Plaza for the day the uprising that liberated Milan began.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Noem held the press conference to pitch the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill requiring individuals to show proof of citizenship before registering to vote and requiring voters show identification before casting their ballot.
    Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2026
  • One of the most recent adaptations of the novel, the 2011 version by Andrea Arnold, notably leaned into this aspect of the book by casting the multiracial James Howson as Heathcliff.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As the city's beloved staple of outdoor theater announces its 66th season of productions, Matt Wallace, producing artistic director of Kentucky Shakespeare, reminds the community of how the program has grown into more than simply a night of theater.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
  • In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Maye was sacked 21 times in the playoffs — the most ever for a QB in a single postseason.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • With the fate of Palace’s previous two managers effectively sealed after defeats here, a loss would have seen Glasner eclipse Patrick Vieira’s 12-game winless run, a sequence which led to the Frenchman being sacked following this fixture three years ago.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Amalia was given a nebulizer and a respiratory medication upon her discharge from the hospital, but these were taken away by detention center staff upon her return, the lawsuit states.
    Jack Queen, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Researchers in China have developed new zinc–air batteries that maintain stable charge–discharge operation for over 1,100 hours.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The state had also regularly granted waivers for customers to bypass the voucher limit for popular vehicle brands.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • While the test waiver began as a reasonable pandemic-era response, it has never been reinstated.
    Andrea Mays, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/release. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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