freely
FREE-lee
Freely (adv) means Without restriction or interference. Example: “The dogs ran freely around the field without leads.”
adv
1
Without restriction or interference.
"The dogs ran freely around the field without leads."
"Citizens are allowed to travel freely between the two countries."
"Water flowed freely through the newly cleared drain."
2
Willingly, without being forced.
"He freely offered to help us move house on Saturday."
"The witness freely shared everything she remembered about that evening."
"She freely admitted that she had made a mistake."
How to use freely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a way that's unrestricted, or done willingly and openly.
Common pairings
freely available
admit freely
move freely
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Word forms
- Comparative
- freelier, more freely
- Superlative
- freeliest, most freely
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The dogs ran _____ around the field without leads.
Etymology
From Old English freolic, related to "free" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."
Related words
Rhymes for freely
See all rhymes for freely →Frequently asked questions
What does “freely” mean?
The word “freely” means without restriction or interference. In plain terms, in a way that's unrestricted, or done willingly and openly.
How do you pronounce “freely”?
“Freely” is pronounced FREE-lee (/ˈfɹili/ in IPA).
How do you use “freely” in a sentence?
Here is “freely” used in a sentence: “Citizens are allowed to travel freely between the two countries.”
What part of speech is “freely”?
“Freely” is an adverb.
Where does the word “freely” come from?
The word “freely” comes from Old English. From Old English freolic, related to "free" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly.".
Is “freely” a common word?
“Freely” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “freely” have?
“Freely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: without restriction or interference.
What is the difference between "free" and "freely" as adverbs?
As an adverb, free most often means without payment — "children travel free" — while freely means without restriction ("the animals roam freely") or willingly ("she freely admits it"). "Roam free" is also idiomatic, but note that "travel freely" means travelling without restriction, not travelling at no cost.
Does "freely available" mean the same as "free"?
Not exactly. Freely available primarily means available without restriction or interference — easy for anyone to obtain. In practice it usually implies no charge as well, but the emphasis is on unrestricted access rather than on price.
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