liberate

verb

lib·​er·​ate ˈli-bə-ˌrāt 

liberated; liberating

transitive verb

1

: to set at liberty : free

specifically : to free (something, such as a country) from domination by a foreign power

2

: to free from combination

liberate the gas by adding acid

3

: to take or take over illegally or unjustly

material liberated from a nearby construction site

—Thorne Dreyer

liberator

ˈli-bə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

liberatory

ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• discharge
• disenthrall
• disenthral
• emancipate
• enfranchise
• enlarge
• free
• loose
• loosen
• manumit
• release
• spring
• unbind
• uncage
• unchain
• unfetter

Choose the Right Synonym for liberate

free, release, liberate, emancipate, manumit mean to set loose from restraint or constraint.

free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

Examples of liberate in a Sentence

Rebels fought to liberate the country.

Soldiers liberated the hostages from their captors.

Laptop computers could liberate workers from their desks.

He was using materials that he had liberated from a construction site.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are other storylines besides the sisters’ crusade to liberate that currency from its frozen prison as well. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025

Trump's announcement came shortly after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told allies that Ukraine cannot liberate all territory occupied by Russian forces and will not be given NATO security protection as part of any peace deal. —David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025

Electrons on the outer shell are the easiest to liberate, requiring the least ionization energy. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Feb. 2025

Their voices remind us of the need for a faith that liberates rather than oppresses — a vision of justice and equality that challenges the enduring misuse of Christianity in the service of racial inequality. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin liberatus, past participle of liberare, from liber — see liberal entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

liberate

verb

lib·​er·​ate ˈlib-ə-ˌrāt 

liberated; liberating

: to set free

liberator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun