liberate
LIH-buh-rayt
Liberate (verb) means to set someone or something free from confinement, control, or oppression. Example: “Allied troops liberated the city after months of occupation.”
verb
1
To set someone or something free from confinement, control, or oppression.
"Allied troops liberated the city after months of occupation."
"The charity works to liberate victims of forced labour."
2
To release a substance or energy through a chemical or physical process.
"The reaction liberates heat as the gases combine."
How to use liberate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo free someone or something — from captivity, oppression, or, in chemistry, to release a substance.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with deliberate — different Latin roots entirely, despite looking similar.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
liberate a country
liberate energy
liberate someone from oppression
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Word forms
- Plural
- liberates
- Third person singular
- liberates
- Past tense
- liberated
- Archaic forms
- liberatest, liberatedst, liberateth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Allied troops _____ the city after months of occupation.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin liberatus, "set free," the past participle of libero, "to free" — ultimately from liber, "free." Not related to deliberate, despite the visual overlap.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for liberate
See all rhymes for liberate →Frequently asked questions
What does “liberate” mean?
The word “liberate” means to set someone or something free from confinement, control, or oppression. In plain terms, to free someone or something — from captivity, oppression, or, in chemistry, to release a substance.
How do you pronounce “liberate”?
“Liberate” is pronounced LIH-buh-rayt (/ˈlɪbəˌɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “liberate” in a sentence?
Here is “liberate” used in a sentence: “Allied troops liberated the city after months of occupation.”
What is another word for “liberate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “liberate” include befree, free, absolve, deliver, discharge and disentangle.
What is the opposite of “liberate”?
The opposite of “liberate” — its antonyms — are capture, confine, imprison, leash and restrain.
What part of speech is “liberate”?
“Liberate” is a verb.
Where does the word “liberate” come from?
The word “liberate” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin liberatus, "set free," the past participle of libero, "to free" — ultimately from liber, "free." Not related to deliberate, despite the visual overlap.
Is “liberate” a common word?
“Liberate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
