Liberate

ˈlɪbəreɪt

verbmedium📊CommonAction
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

To release someone or something from confinement, captivity, or oppression.

ˈlɪbəreɪt

verbpositivemedium
Action

To set someone or something free.

The prisoners were liberated after the war ended.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're helping a kitten escape from a box. To liberate means to set something free, whether it's a country from an enemy, or yourself from feeling shy. When you liberate something, you're giving it its freedom!

👶 For kids: To set someone or something free from being trapped or controlled.

More Examples

2

The rescue team worked tirelessly to liberate the hostages.

3

She felt liberated after finally quitting her job.

How It's Used

Political

"The army liberated the city from enemy control."

Figurative

"Therapy can help liberate you from your fears."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

From Latin *liberare* meaning 'to set free,' from *liber* meaning 'free.'

Used extensively in historical accounts of wars and revolutions.

Memory tip

Think of a *library* – a place where you can *liberate* yourself from ignorance by reading books.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to set free"

liberate a cityliberate a countryliberate oneselfliberate hostagesliberate the mind

Common misspellings

liberateeliberaitliberaitte

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written