📒 without particular plans or arrangements; not busy
- Are you free on Saturday? We're having a barbecue.
- We try to keep Sundays free.
- free for something If Sarah is free for lunch I'll take her out.
📒 not being used
- He held out his free hand and I took it.
- Is this seat free?
- The hospital needs to keep some beds free for emergencies.
📒 costing nothing
- Admission is free.
- free software/tickets
- We even offer a free web design service.
📒 not under the control or in the power of somebody else; able to do what you want
- I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free.
- Students have a free choice of modules in their final year.
- free to do something You are free to leave at any time.
📒 not limited or controlled by anyone else
- A true democracy needs free speech and a free press.
- He called for free and fair elections.
- They gave me free access to all the files.
📒 not a prisoner or slave
- He walked out of jail a free man.
- The hostages were all set free.
- The hacker is currently free on bail.
📒 not tied up or in a cage
- The researchers set the birds free.
- free to do something Our livestock is free to roam.
- animals roaming free across the plains
📒 clear; not blocked
- Ensure there is a free flow of air around the machine.
- the free movement of traffic
- The grills allow free movement of air.
📒 not containing or affected by something harmful or unpleasant
- free from artificial colours and flavourings
- Everyone deserves to live free from fear.
- free of defects/problems/symptoms
📒 without the thing mentioned
- pure, additive-free ingredients
- a trouble-free life
- After six months of treatment he is cancer-free.
📒 not attached to something; not stuck somewhere and unable to move
- Pull gently on the free end of the rope.
- She finally managed to pull herself free.
- They tied him up but he managed to get free.
📒 ready to give something, especially when it is not wanted
- He's too free with his opinions.
📒 a free translation is not exact but gives the general meaning
📒 to have done something successfully, especially when it was difficult
- I could see the finish line and thought I was home free.
📒 informal; relaxed
- Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
📒 if you give somebody a free pass or somebody gets a free pass, they are not punished for something bad they have done, or they are given permission to do something bad
- This time he gets a free pass but if he does it again, he’ll be sent to jail.
- Just because someone has expensive designer gear, it doesn't mean they have a free pass to be mean to my staff.
📒 to get, have, etc. the opportunity to do what you want to do and to make your own decisions
- I was given a free hand in designing the syllabus.
📒 to get or take something without paying because somebody else is paying for it
📒 to give somebody complete freedom of action; to allow a feeling to be expressed freely
- The designer was given free rein.
- The script allows full rein to her larger-than-life acting style.
- When I paint I just give my imagination free rein.
📒 used as a reply when somebody suggests that you should not do something, or when somebody has asked permission or said they are going to do something
- It's a free country; I'll say what I like!
- Wear what you like. It's a free country.
- ‘It's a free country!’ he shouted. ‘I can do what I like!’
📒 used to say that it is not possible to get something for nothing
📒 to be allowed to leave court, etc., without receiving any punishment
- She was acquitted and walked free from court.