Meaning of free In English

• 0 not limited or controlled:

  • [ + to infinitive ] Am I free (= do I have permission) to leave now?

  • I'll give you a key, so you'll be free to come and go as you like.

  • Please feel free to interrupt me if you don't understand anything.

  • The agreement gives companies free access to the markets of member countries.

  • A great deal has been achieved, most notably free elections (= elections in which people can vote as they wish).

  • The atmosphere in the office is fairly free and easy.

• 1 costing nothing, or not needing to be paid for:

  • I got some free cinema tickets.

  • Members all receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter.

  • The elderly travel free on public transport.

  • We will install your washing machine free of charge/for free (= without charge).

• 2 not a prisoner any longer, or having unlimited movement:

  • She left the court a free woman after the case against her collapsed because of a legal technicality.

  • The new government has decided to set all political prisoners free.

  • She went/walked free after the charges against her were dropped.

  • I let the dogs run free in the park.

• 3 not in a fixed position or not joined to anything:

  • Both bookcases stand free of the wall.

  • The bolts have worked themselves free because of the vibrations.

  • Rescuers took several hours to cut the survivors free from the wreckage.

• 4 not doing anything planned or important, or available to be used:

  • I do a lot of reading in my free time.

  • She's in a meeting at the moment, but she should be free to see you in ten minutes.

  • I'm working in the café all this week, but I've got a free evening next Monday.

  • Excuse me, is this seat free (= is anyone intending to sit in this seat)?

  • We queued for half an hour waiting for a free space in the car park.

  • If you take these bags, that will give me a free hand to open the door.

• 5 not having something that is unwanted or unpleasant:

  • The organization is a charitable enterprise, so it is free from tax worldwide.

  • She'll never be completely free of the disease.

  • Ensure the wound is free from/of dirt before applying the bandage.

• 6 giving or using often or in large amounts:

  • He's rather free with his wife's money.

  • She's very free with advice but she never seems to act on it herself.

  • He's very free with his criticism!

  • Don't her parents mind her making free with their house while they're on holiday?

• 7 If an element is free, it is not combined with anything else or attached to anything else:

  • free oxygen/nitrogen

• 8 to allow someone to leave a prison or place where they have been kept:

  • After a ten-hour siege the gunman agreed to free the hostages.

  • Anti-vivisectionists last night freed a number of animals from a laboratory.

• 9 to move or make loose someone or something that is caught or held somewhere:

  • Both men were freed from the wreckage after a four-hour operation.

  • In vain he tried to free the rope around his hands.

• 10 to remove the limits or controls on someone or something:

  • Her retirement from politics will free her (= provide her with enough time) to write her memoirs.

• 11 to make something available for someone to use:

  • They planned to extend the car park, freeing existing parking spaces for visitors.

  • Can you cancel my meetings - I need to free (up) the afternoon to write this report.

• 12 used at the end of words to mean "without having to pay":

  • They agreed to let us live there rent-free.

  • Many banks are now offering interest-free overdrafts to students.

• 13 used at the end of words to mean "without":

  • lead-free fuel

  • No working environment is entirely stress-free.

  • The journey was surprisingly hassle-free.

• 14 not limited or controlled:

  • [ + to infinitive ] You are free to come and go as you please.

  • [ + to infinitive ] Please feel free to ask questions.

  • Free elections will be held in two months.

• 15 not or no longer a prisoner or an enslaved person:

  • She left the court a free woman.

  • In the 1700s, Mamaroneck was home to a free black community.

• 16 costing nothing; not needing to be paid for:

  • When you buy a dinner for over $10, you get a soda free.

  • We will install your washing machine free of charge (= without cost).

• 17 not held in a fixed position or not joined to anything:

  • He grabbed the free end of the rope.

  • Mechanics checked the plane to see if any of the bolts had worked themselves free.

• 18 not doing anything planned or important, or not being used:

  • We have plans for Friday night but we’re free the rest of the weekend.

  • I do a lot of reading in my free time.

• 19 not having something that is unwanted or unpleasant:

  • After many months of treatment, she was declared free of disease.

• 20 to allow someone to leave a prison or place where they have been kept:

  • The hostages were all freed.

• 21 to release someone or something from limits or controls:

  • [ + to infinitive ] The inheritance freed him to travel.

• 22 to release someone from something that is unwanted or unpleasant:

  • He longed to be freed of all his obligations.

• 23 to release someone or something that is physically held or trapped:

  • They worked to free the man trapped in the wreckage of his car.

• 24 without:

  • tax-free

  • toll-free

  • The superintendent lives here rent-free.

• 25 costing nothing:

  • They received two free return air-tickets every year.

  • Tomorrow, shoppers will receive free samples of the store's famous chocolate chip cookies.

  • free to/for sb The Bank's 3,030 ATMs would continue to be free to everyone.

• 26 not limited or controlled:

  • We know that freedom and opportunity can truly thrive in a free society that is also a responsible society.

  • The website spokesperson said that its opinions are protected as free speech.

  • be free to do sth Members of the public buying direct from an insurer are free to inquire about its security rating.

• 27 something that is free is available to be used because no one else is using it:

  • Is this desk free?

• 28 not in a fixed position or not joined to anything:

  • free to do sth With the autocue, your hands and head are free to communicate body language more powerfully.

• 29 not doing anything planned or important:

  • free to do sth Are you free to attend tomorrow's board meeting?

• 30 not having something that is unwanted:

  • free from sth Members must be free from politics and outside influences when making decisions.

  • free of sth They proved through testing that their products were free of contamination.

• 31 used to say that nothing is free even if it appears to be, for example, if someone gives you something they probably want something back from you in return

• 32 without having to pay for something:

  • They are then given a business account free of charge by the bank.

  • You can access the online database for free.

• 33 to make something available for someone to use:

  • free (up) sth The chairman has promised tough action to cut costs and free up funds to grow core businesses.

• 34 to remove the limits or controls on someone or something:

  • free sth from sth The basic aim is to free the housing market from council control.

• 35 used at the end of words to mean 'without':

  • It is supposed to be virtually pollution-free and produce both electricity and hydrogen.

  • The returns are not risk-free.

  • tax-/interest-/duty-free Your husband could put the money in a tax-free cash ISA.