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free

1 syllable · also freer, freest

Quick answer

As an adjective, free means unconstrained. As an adverb, it means without needing to pay.

Meanings of free

51 meanings

socialUnconstrained.
“He was given free rein to do whatever he wanted.”
Not imprisoned or enslaved.
Unconstrained by timidity or distrust
Generous; liberal.
“He's very free with his money.”
Without obligations.
Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed.
“a free school”
Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; said of a government, institutions, etc.
“This is a free country.”
softwareWith no or only freedom-preserving limitations on distribution or modification.
“OpenOffice is free software.”
softwareIntended for release, as opposed to a checked version.
Obtainable without any payment.
“The government provides free health care.”
“It's free real estate.”
chiefly advertising slangComplimentary
“Buy a TV to get a free DVD player!”
abstractUnconstrained.
mathematicsUnconstrained by relators.
“the free group on three generators”
mathematicslogicUnconstrained by quantifiers.

Older and rare meanings (1)

Older and rare meanings (1)

To make free; set at liberty; release.
To rid of something that confines or oppresses.
programmingTo relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system.
Grant freedom to; free from confinement
Similar: liberate, release, unloose, unloosen, loose
Relieve from
“Rid the house of pests”
Similar: rid, disembarrass
Remove or force out from a position
“The dentist dislodged the piece of food that had been stuck under my gums”
“He finally could free the legs of the earthquake victim who was buried in the rubble”
Similar: dislodge
Grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to
“She exempted me from the exam”
Similar: exempt, relieve
Make (information) available for publication
“release the list with the names of the prisoners”
Similar: release
Free from obligations or duties
Similar: discharge
Free or remove obstruction from
“free a path across the cluttered floor”
Similar: disengage
Let off the hook
“I absolve you from this responsibility”
Similar: absolve
Part with a possession or right
“I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest”
“resign a claim to the throne”
Similar: release, relinquish, resign, give up
Release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition
Similar: release, liberate
Make (assets) available
“release the holdings in the dictator's bank account”
Similar: unblock, unfreeze, release

association footballA free transfer.
hurlingThe usual means of restarting play after a foul is committed, where the non-offending team restarts from where the foul was committed.

Abbreviation of free kick.
Abbreviation of freestyle.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).