ENGLISH
REFERENCE

releasing

v. · n.
US //ɹiˈɫisɪŋ// UK //ɹɪlˈiːsɪŋ// re·leas·ing
  1. 1 letting go or setting free (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    letting something go from your hand or allowing a person or animal to go free.

    the act of setting someone or something free from physical or legal restraint.

    Example

    The scientist was releasing the bird back into the wild after checking its health.

    Example

    Releasing the prisoners was a key condition of the peace treaty, intended to signal a genuine commitment to ending the conflict.

    Usage

    often used with a direct object representing the person or thing being freed.
  2. 2 making a product available (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    making a new film, song, book, or piece of news available for the public to see or buy.

    the process of making information or a commercial product available for public consumption or sale.

    Example

    The studio is releasing the new superhero movie in cinemas this Friday.

    Example

    By releasing the quarterly earnings report ahead of schedule, the company managed to stabilise its stock price before the weekend.

    Usage

    frequently used in business and media contexts.
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  1. 3 the act of letting go (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the action of letting something go or making it available.

    the action or process of liberating something or making a formal announcement.

    Example

    The releasing of the balloons into the sky was the highlight of the festival.

    Example

    The sudden releasing of the pressure valve prevented what could have been a catastrophic failure of the entire cooling system.

    Usage

    functions as a gerund or verbal noun.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse the noun 'release' with the gerund 'releasing'; use 'releasing' when focusing on the ongoing action.

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