released; releasing
1
: to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude
release hostages
release pent-up emotions
release the brakes
2
: to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses
was released from her promise
3
: to give up in favor of another : relinquish
release a claim to property
4
: to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of
also
: to make available to the public
the commission released its findings
release a new movie
: to move from one's normal position (as in football or basketball) in order to assume another position or to perform a second assignment
1
: relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble
2
a
: discharge from obligation or responsibility
b(1)
: relinquishment of a right or claim
(2)
: an act by which a legal right is discharged
specifically
: a conveyance of a right in lands or tenements to another having an estate in possession
3
a
: the act or an instance of liberating or freeing (as from restraint)
b
: the act or manner of concluding a musical tone or phrase
c
: the act or manner of ending a sound : the movement of one or more vocal organs in quitting the position for a speech sound
d
: the action or manner of throwing a ball
has a quick release
4
: an instrument effecting a legal release
5
: the state of being freed
6
: a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required
7
a
: the act of permitting performance or publication
b
: the matter released
especially
: a statement prepared for the press
re-leased; re-leasing; re-leases
: to lease again
Synonyms
Examples of release in a Sentence
Verb (1)
The hostages have been released.
The judge released the prisoner.
The lion was released from its cage.
There is a lot of controversy over whether or not wolves should be released into the park.
I released my son's hand, and he ran out onto the playground.
The factory faced serious fines for releasing dangerous chemicals into the river.
Heat is released into the atmosphere by cars.
During exercise, the body releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel better.
She started to cry, releasing all of her repressed emotion.
Exercise is a good way to release stress.
Noun
the release of the hostages
The prisoner is eligible for early release.
There was a controversy over the release of wolves into the park.
The prisoner was given an early release.
the release of heat into the atmosphere
Exercise triggers the release of chemicals in the brain that make you feel better.
an accidental release of pollutants into the river
They've filed a request for release from the contract.
They're requesting a release from their contractual obligations.
The release of the book is scheduled for next month.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Swift first released a 16-song version of Tortured Poets at midnight Friday before following it up with the album’s extended Anthology edition two hours later.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The single is a preview of what will be his new LP, to be released on May 9, and which, according to a press release, is inspired by the singer’s humble upbringing in the barrio Pedregal in his native Medellín.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
This is clear with The Tortured Poets Department, released April 19, which lists just seven people in the writing and production credits.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
The book, released in 2020, tells the story of four septuagenarian friends who live in a retirement community and solve cold cases for fun.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection In the film—released in 2004—Garner plays an unpopular 13-year-old who magically wakes up one day in the body of her 30-year-old self, a glamorous fashion editor at the fictional Poise magazine.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
For 414 Day this year, Adidas released a limited-edition shoe, that pays homage to Shake’s hometown.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Her album My Stupid Life released earlier this year.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The Tortured Poets Department is Swift’s eleventh studio album and her her first release of new music since 2022’s Grammy-winning Midnights.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024
Swift, 34, has broken new Spotify records since the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
The driver sustained a minor injury to his nose and did not require medical treatment, according to the news release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift’s newest album The Tortured Poets Department is here, and it is anticipated to be one of the biggest releases of the year.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
When Ticketmaster seemingly botched the initial release of her Eras Tour tickets, the fans made enough noise that US lawmakers took notice.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Under the new rule, companies are required to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed one pound within a 24-hour period to the National Response Center, and also to state, tribal, and local emergency responders.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Following the release of her tenth album Midnights in 2022, Swift announced her massive Eras Tour.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023
Verb
No date was released for the juvenile’s arraignment.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Swift first released a 16-song version of Tortured Poets at midnight Friday before following it up with the album’s extended Anthology edition two hours later.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The single is a preview of what will be his new LP, to be released on May 9, and which, according to a press release, is inspired by the singer’s humble upbringing in the barrio Pedregal in his native Medellín.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
This is clear with The Tortured Poets Department, released April 19, which lists just seven people in the writing and production credits.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
The book, released in 2020, tells the story of four septuagenarian friends who live in a retirement community and solve cold cases for fun.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection In the film—released in 2004—Garner plays an unpopular 13-year-old who magically wakes up one day in the body of her 30-year-old self, a glamorous fashion editor at the fictional Poise magazine.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2024
For 414 Day this year, Adidas released a limited-edition shoe, that pays homage to Shake’s hometown.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024
Her album My Stupid Life released earlier this year.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
Noun
Congratulations on the upcoming release of your children’s book.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The Tortured Poets Department is Swift’s eleventh studio album and her her first release of new music since 2022’s Grammy-winning Midnights.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024
Swift, 34, has broken new Spotify records since the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
The driver sustained a minor injury to his nose and did not require medical treatment, according to the news release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift’s newest album The Tortured Poets Department is here, and it is anticipated to be one of the biggest releases of the year.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
When Ticketmaster seemingly botched the initial release of her Eras Tour tickets, the fans made enough noise that US lawmakers took notice.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Under the new rule, companies are required to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed one pound within a 24-hour period to the National Response Center, and also to state, tribal, and local emergency responders.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Following the release of her tenth album Midnights in 2022, Swift announced her massive Eras Tour.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
The families protested as some had been waiting for their unit to be re-leased since 2019, so Lifespace later agreed that they will be paid either when their unit is taken over by a new resident or by 2025 at the latest.
—Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'release.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near release
Cite this Entry
“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/release. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
release
1 of 2 verb
re·lease
ri-ˈlēs 
released; releasing
1
: to set free (as from confinement)
release a prisoner
release a bird from a cage
2
: to relieve from something that holds or burdens
released from our promise
3
: to give up in favor of another : relinquish
release a claim to property
4
: to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of (as a movie or news story)
release
2 of 2 noun1
: relief or rescue from sorrow, suffering, or trouble
2
a
: a discharge from an obligation (as a debt)
b
: a giving up of a right or claim
3
: the act or an instance of setting free or letting go
4
: a document that contains a release
5
: the state of being freed
6
: a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required
7
a
: the act of permitting performance or publication
b
: the matter released
especially
: a statement prepared for the press
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