free

We usually use the word "free" as an adjective or as a verb. It has many interesting applications.

You probably hear it most often as an adjective when there is absolutely no cost for something:

• These books are free. (You don’t have to pay any money for them.)
• We saw a free concert last night.
• You can use this website for free.

We also use "free" to describe living conditions and political expression:

• Feel free to say what you like.
• Do you feel free to express yourself in the country where you live?
• You are free to come and go during the conference.
• When you retire, you are free to do what you want to do every day.
• Are you free later on today? (free = to have time)
• What time are you free?

You can add "free" to the end of a noun to explain the absence of something:

• This pop is sugar free. (There’s no sugar in it.)
• She leads a carefree life. (She has no concerns.)
• He’s finally cancer free. (The cancer is gone.)

As a verb, the word "free" means to release or let something go.

• Tim freed the rabbit from his cage. (He let the rabbit out of his cage.)
• The man was freed from prison after serving eight years.
• Can you free up sometime to meet me next week?
• Tanya freed herself from her debt by paying off all of her credit cards.
• Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves from slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation.

He’s free!

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This page was first published on July 4, 2012. It was updated on March 8, 2016.