📒 to let somebody come out of a place where they have been kept or stuck and unable to leave or move
- release somebody to release a prisoner
- The hostages were released unharmed.
- He was released without charge after questioning by police.
📒 to stop holding something or stop it from being held so that it can move, fly, fall, etc. freely
- release something He refused to release her arm.
- Intense heat is released in the reaction.
- 10 000 balloons were released at the ceremony.
📒 to express feelings such as anger or worry in order to get rid of them
- She burst into tears, releasing all her pent-up emotions.
- She laughed, the tension inside her suddenly released.
📒 to remove something from a fixed position, allowing something else to move or function
- to release the clutch/handbrake/switch
- Now release the clutch and move away from the kerb.
📒 to make information available to the public
- release something to release a statement/report/document/poll/study
- to release figures/results/information/data
- Police have released no further details about the accident.
📒 to make a film, recording or other product available to the public
- He's planning to release a solo album.
- to release a film/video
- They've released a new version of the original film.
📒 to make something available that had previously been limited
- The new building programme will go ahead as soon as the government releases the funds.
📒 to free somebody from a duty, responsibility, contract, etc.
- release somebody The club is releasing some of its older players.
- release somebody from something The new law released employers from their obligation to recognize unions.
📒 to make something less tight
- You need to release the tension in these shoulder muscles.
- to release a catch/a screw/a nut/the clutch/the brakes