free

modif.

1. Not restricted politically

   sovereign, independent, liberated, autonomous, freed, released, delivered, emancipated, freeborn, enjoying democracy, enjoying political independence, democratic, self-governing, self-directing, autarkic, not subject to regulation, released from bondage, self-ruling, enfranchised, unenslaved, unregimented, unregulated, deregulated, decontrolled.

   Antonyms enslaved, subject, bound.

2. Not restricted in space; said of persons

   unconfined, unconstrained, at large, loose, cast loose, clear of, escaped, let out, let off, unshackled, unfettered, scot-free, free as air, free as a bird, free to come and go, unoccupied, at liberty, at leisure, unengaged, disengaged, available, not tied down, footloose and fancy-free*, on the loose*.

   Antonyms confined*, imprisoned*, restrained. *

3. Not restricted in space; said of things

   unimpeded, unobstructed, unhampered, unrestricted, unattached, loose, not held fast, unfastened, clear, open, unentangled, unengaged, disengaged, unoccupied, vacant, available, extricated, untrammeled, clear of, devoid of.

   Antonyms fixed*, fastened*, rooted. *

4. Given without charge

   gratis, gratuitous, free of charge, without charge, for nothing, free of cost, complimentary, on the house, for free*, for love*, as a comp*, as a freebie*, for a thank-you*, free for nothing*.

   Antonyms paid*, charged*, costly. *

5. Not restricted in speech or conduct

   candid, lax, loose, freewheeling*; see easy 1, frank.

6. Generous

   liberal, lavish, openhanded; see generous 1.

for free*

give a free hand*

make free with*

set free

with a free hand

free

v.

1. To set loose

   liberate, release, discharge, deliver, save, emancipate, rescue, extricate, loose, loosen, unfix, unbind, disengage, undo, set free, set at liberty, let out, let go, let loose, bail out, turn loose, cut loose, relieve, reprieve, restore, absolve, acquit, dismiss, pardon, clear, exonerate, enfranchise, affranchise, ransom, redeem, unfetter, unbind, unshackle, manumit, unchain, disentangle, disenthrall, disimprison, demobilize, untie, unlock, unhand, unbar, let out of prison, parole, open the cage, spring*.

   Antonyms seize*, capture*, incarcerate. *

2. To clear of obstruction or entanglement

   disengage, clear, disentangle, unfasten, extricate, untangle, disburden, disencumber, free up, relieve, discharge, unload, cast off, put off, empty, unburden, disembarrass, decontaminate.

free is the general term meaning to set loose from any sort of restraint, entanglement, burden, etc. to free a convict, one's conscience, etc.; release, more or less interchangeable with free, stresses a setting loose from confinement, literally or figuratively release me from my promise; liberate emphasizes the state of liberty into which the freed person or thing is brought to liberate prisoners of war; emancipate refers to a freeing from the bondage of slavery or of social institutions or conventions regarded as equivalent to slavery emancipated from medieval superstition; discharge implies a being permitted to leave that which confines or restrains discharged at last from the army