# release

/ɹiˈɫis/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/release
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to set free

verb · CEFR B1

to let a person or animal go free from a place where they were kept.

For teachers: to liberate someone from confinement or physical restraint. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The wildlife center treated the injured owl and then released it back into the forest.
- After months of diplomatic negotiations, the government finally released the political prisoners as a gesture of goodwill.

### 2. to make public

verb · CEFR B1

to make a film, song, book, or news story available for people to see or buy.

For teachers: to issue or make a product or information available for public consumption or sale.

- The band plans to release their new album just before the summer tour starts.
- The studio decided to release the documentary simultaneously in theaters and on streaming platforms to maximize its initial impact.

### 3. to let go of

verb · CEFR B2

to stop holding something with your hand.

For teachers: to cease to hold or contain physically; to allow a mechanism to move from a fixed position.

- You have to release the button before the machine will start the next cycle.
- As the climber reached the ledge, he carefully released his grip on the rope to adjust his safety harness.

### 4. the act of freeing

noun · CEFR B1

the act of letting someone out of prison or a restricted place.

For teachers: the action or process of being set free from confinement or legal obligation.

- The prisoner's release was delayed by several days due to a paperwork error.
- The legal team argued that the defendant's immediate release was necessary given the lack of substantial evidence presented by the prosecution.

### 5. a new product

noun · CEFR B1

a new film, record, or piece of software that has just become available.

For teachers: a specific version of a product, especially software or media, made available for distribution.

- The latest release of the app fixed several bugs that were causing it to crash.
- Critics praised the director's latest release for its innovative use of practical effects and non-linear storytelling.

### 6. letting out a substance

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the act of letting a gas, chemical, or energy come out into the air.

For teachers: the discharge or emission of a substance or energy into the environment.

- The accidental release of chemicals into the river caused a lot of damage to the fish.
- The sudden release of pressure within the valve caused a loud hiss that echoed through the laboratory.

### 7. relief from pain

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a feeling of freedom from pain, worry, or unhappiness.

For teachers: the state of being liberated from physical or emotional distress.

- For many people, exercise provides a healthy release from the stress of work.
- The patient found a sense of release in the quiet garden, away from the sterile environment of the hospital ward.

## Examples

- The band announced the release of their new album.
- The prisoner's early release was granted after the board reviewed his consistent good behavior over the last decade.
- Following the official press release, the studio coordinated a global marketing campaign to ensure maximum visibility for the film's theatrical debut.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.