- 1 to let somebody/something come out of a place where they have been kept or trapped release somebody/something to release a prisoner/hostage release somebody/something from something Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage. (figurative) Death released him from his suffering. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbquickly, immediately, eventually, … prepositionfrom phrasesnewly released, recently released, release somebody on bail, … See full entry stop holding something
- 2 release something to stop holding something or stop it from being held so that it can move, fly, fall, etc. freely synonym let go, let loose He refused to release her arm. 10 000 balloons were released at the ceremony. Intense heat is released in the reaction. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbaccidentally, slowly, quickly, … prepositionfrom, into See full entry feelings
- 3 release something to express feelings such as anger or worry in order to get rid of them She burst into tears, releasing all her pent-up emotions. free somebody from duty
- 4to free somebody from a duty, responsibility, contract, etc. release somebody The club is releasing some of its older players. release somebody from something The new law released employers from their obligation to recognize unions. part of machine
- 5 release something to remove something from a fixed position, allowing something else to move or function to release the clutch/handbrake/switch, etc. make less tight
- 6release something to make something less tight You need to release the tension in these shoulder muscles. make available
- 7 release something to make something available to the public Police have released no further details about the accident. to release a movie/book/CD new products released onto the market Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbofficially, commercially, publicly, … verb + releaserefuse to, be expected to, plan to, … prepositionin, on, to, … phrasesnewly released, recently released, originally released, … See full entry See related entries: Producing music, Showing films
- 8release something to make something available that had previously been restricted The new building programme will go ahead as soon as the government releases the funds. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French reles (noun), relesser (verb), from Latin relaxare ‘stretch out again, slacken’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.Extra examples Details of the attack have not yet been released to the public. Figures to be officially released this week reveal that long-term unemployment is still rising. He was released on his own recognizance and could face up to four years in jail. He’s planning to release a solo album. How much radiation was released into the air? Police have refused to release the name of the dead man. She laughed, the tension inside her suddenly released. She was released from prison last week. The album has not been released on CD. The album was originally released in 1974. The book has not yet been released in paperback. The committee is expected to release its findings this summer. The compound slowly releases iron into the bloodstream. The dam suddenly released millions of gallons of water. The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea. The film was never released theatrically in the US. The hostages were released unharmed. The new version is expected to be released shortly. newly released recordings the gases that are released from aerosols He was released without charge after questioning by police. It’s been three years since he was released from prison. Now release the clutch and move away from the kerb. Several people charged with minor crimes were released without trial. She was released immediately when the soldiers realized their mistake. She was released on bail by the New York police. The birds were cleaned and fed and released again into the wild. The government is insisting that the men are released unconditionally. The kidnappers have agreed to release the hostages by 12 noon. The organization has released a report drawing attention to the appalling conditions. There have been a lot of new products released onto the market. They were interrogated before being released. When was the film first released? to release a catch/a screw/a nut/the clutch/the brakes
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//rɪˈliːs//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːs//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they release BrE BrE//rɪˈliːs//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːs//
he / she / it releases BrE BrE//rɪˈliːsɪz//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːsɪz//
past simple released BrE BrE//rɪˈliːst//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːst//
past participle released BrE BrE//rɪˈliːst//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːst//
-ing form releasing BrE BrE//rɪˈliːsɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈliːsɪŋ//
Producing music, Showing filmsCheck pronunciation: release
