unleash
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to let a strong force or feeling happen suddenly, often with a big effect.
to release a powerful or destructive force, emotion, or set of events that was previously controlled or suppressed.
Simple“The storm unleashed heavy rain and strong winds across the coast.”
In context“The sudden change in government policy unleashed a wave of public protest that caught the administration completely off guard.”
UsageAlways used with a direct object representing the force or emotion being released.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
to take a dog or other animal off its lead so it can run free.
to remove a leash from an animal, typically a dog, allowing it to move without physical restraint.
Simple“Once they reached the open field, she unleashed her dog so he could run.”
In context“The hiker unleashed his golden retriever at the trailhead, allowing the animal to explore the undergrowth ahead of the group.”
“Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm in the Pacific Ocean, has crept closer to the Hawaiian islands with forecasters warning the weather systems could unleash tornadoes on the islands of Kauai and Niihau.”
From un- + leash.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.