liberate

[ lib-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, lib·er·at·ed, lib·er·at·ing.

1. to set free, as from imprisonment or bondage.

   Synonyms: loose, disenthrall, unfetter, deliver

   Antonyms: enthrall, imprison

2. to free (a nation or area) from control by a foreign or oppressive government.
3. to free (a group or individual) from social or economic constraints or discrimination, especially arising from traditional role expectations or bias.
4. to disengage; set free from combination, as a gas.
5. Slang. to steal or take over illegally:

   The soldiers liberated a consignment of cigarettes.

liberate

/ ˈlɪbəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to give liberty to; make free
2. to release (something, esp a gas) from chemical combination during a chemical reaction
3. to release from occupation or subjugation by a foreign power
4. to free from social prejudices or injustices
5. euphemistic.
   to steal

Derived Forms

• ˈliberˌator, noun

Other Words From

• liber·ative lib·er·a·to·ry [lib, -er-, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• liber·ator noun
• pre·liber·ate verb (used with object) preliberated preliberating
• re·liber·ate verb (used with object) reliberated reliberating
• un·liber·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin līberātus (past participle of līberāre “to free”), equivalent to līberā- verb stem + -tus past participle suffix. See liberal, -ate ¹

Synonym Study

See release.

Example Sentences

Working remotely was supposed to make us more engaged and productive, liberating our creativity from the confines of the office.

From Fortune

Rather, such new technologies effectively “liberate” quantum mechanics from the confines of atoms and molecules and bring it to the macroscopic scales of everyday life.

From Quanta Magazine

Instead, we should think of them as liberating, a way to keep us away from the virus.

From No Straight News

The following age will be modulated through ubuntu, liberating the last of humankind to exist in a hierarchal civilization.

From MIT Technology Review

Or, I realized after some further thought, they might be planning to shop around for new partners as soon as they were liberated from the existing contract, exploring all the available options regarding studio, technology, publisher, and cash.

From Fortune

And we will liberate Chechnya and the entire Caucasus, God willing.

From The Daily Beast

I would enslave them even more and liberate men so they would start behaving like men again.

From The Daily Beast

We fought in Mosul 10 days,” Jasim said, “then they sent us to Bayji to help the army liberate the refinery.

From The Daily Beast

During the conflict to liberate Kuwait, Egypt contributed the fourth-largest contingent of troops to the international coalition.

From The Daily Beast

They participated in the struggle to liberate India in language borrowed from or revitalized by their rulers.

From The Daily Beast

He promised to liberate all prisoners of war who might fall into insurgent hands, on surrender of their arms and ammunition.

From Project Gutenberg

At the first meeting the Filipinos agreed to liberate all except the friars, because these might raise trouble.

From Project Gutenberg

Fearless, strong, and proud, he will conquer all obstacles; he will break his chains and liberate mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

But to act, I have come, madame, to liberate from this shambles the gentle lamb you hold here prisoned.

From Project Gutenberg

They profess to liberate the soul from the evils of mortal life,--to arrive at eternal beatitudes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• emancipate
• free
• rescue
• save