liberate
/ˈlɪbəˌɹeɪt/ verb B1- Often followed by from: to allow or cause (someone or something) to be free; to set free, to release.
- To free (someone or something) from discriminatory or oppressive attitudes, inhibition, or restraint. · You need to free your mind and liberate yourself from prejudice.
- To release (someone) from slavery; to manumit.
- To free (a place such as a country, or the residents thereof) from an occupying force, or from oppression such as unjust rule.
- To cause (energy or a substance) to be released through a chemical reaction or physical decomposition. · Since the reaction liberates a large amount of chlorine gas, a powerful ventilation system is recommended.
- To take (property belonging to someone else) by force or theft; to loot, to rob, to steal. · We didn’t need IDs. We just liberated these beers from the back of the shop.
Plural liberate · He/she/it liberates · Past liberated · Past participle liberated · -ing form liberating
Verb forms
- Base form
- liberate
- He/she/it
- liberates
- Past
- liberated
- Past participle
- liberated
- -ing form
- liberating
From the library
The obscurity augmented the acuteness of his hearing; at the slightest sound he rose and hastened to the door, convinced they were about to liberate him, but the sound died away, and Dantès sank again into his seat.
“Was he liberated, then?”
“My dear sir, the government is rich and does not want your treasures,” replied the inspector; “keep them until you are liberated.” The abbé’s eyes glistened; he seized the inspector’s hand.
“But what if I am not liberated,” cried he, “and am detained here until my death?
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