English Reference

Word

release

Phoneticsre·lease, stress on the second syllable

/ɹiˈɫis/

Definitions

01to set free

B1 · Intermediate

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

v. 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.”

Synonyms

liberatefreeunloose

02to make public

B1 · Intermediate

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

v. 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.”

Antonyms

03to let go of

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to stop holding something with your hand.

v. 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.”

Synonyms

dropunhandlet go

Antonyms

04the act of freeing

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Law

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

n. 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.”

05a new product

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing

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

n. 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.”

06letting out a substance

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical

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

n. 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.”

07relief from pain

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary

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

n. 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.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “release” in context.

Verb

01. finally release

“After months of delays, the band finally released their new album.”

adv + verb

02. formally release

“The studio will formally release the official trailer tomorrow morning.”

adv + verb

Noun

03. release from custody

“He was released from custody after the witness changed her story.”

verb + prep + noun

04. release information

“The company refused to release information about the new software.”

verb + noun

05. release on bail

“The suspect was released on bail pending further inquiries.”

verb + prep + noun

06. release prisoner

“The government decided to release prisoners who had served most of their sentence.”

verb + noun

07. release statement

“The police will release a statement regarding the investigation later today.”

verb + noun

08. release tension

“Deep breathing exercises can help you release tension in your shoulders.”

verb + noun

09. release a new album

“The singer is planning to release a new album early next year.”

10. release a press statement

“The department will release a press statement to clarify the situation.”

11. release someone from prison

“He was released from prison after serving ten years for the crime.”

Real-World Examples

“The company released a new framework to track, investigate, and disclose cases of AI model misalignment, along with six reports detailing unexpected or concerning model behavior.”
Reuters 16 Sept 2026
“Apple just released its new iPhone operating system, iOS 27, and you can download it right now if you have an iPhone 11 or newer.”
The New York Times 14 Sept 2026
“Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek formally released its V4 Pro model on Thursday, pricing it several times higher than its V4 Flash model as it seeks to turn stronger benchmark performance into a premium flagship offering.”
Reuters 13 Aug 2026
“The release on Tuesday included more than 170,000 pages of air quality reports, contamination records and correspondence among city officials in the months after Sept. 11.”
The New York Times 8 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).

From re- + lease.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Domains

LawMusic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference