Word
releasing
Phoneticsre·leas·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈɫisɪŋ/
UK/ɹɪlˈiːsɪŋ/
Definitions
01letting go or setting free
B1 · Intermediate
v. letting something go from your hand or allowing a person or animal to go free.
v. the act of setting someone or something free from physical or legal restraint.
“The scientist was releasing the bird back into the wild after checking its health.”
“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.
Synonyms
02making a product available
B1 · Intermediate
v. making a new film, song, book, or piece of news available for the public to see or buy.
v. the process of making information or a commercial product available for public consumption or sale.
“The studio is releasing the new superhero movie in cinemas this Friday.”
“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.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the act of letting go
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the action of letting something go or making it available.
n. the action or process of liberating something or making a formal announcement.
“The releasing of the balloons into the sky was the highlight of the festival.”
“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.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse the noun 'release' with the gerund 'releasing'; use 'releasing' when focusing on the ongoing action.
Synonyms
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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