Meanings
release1
nounrelease (countable and uncountable, plural releases)
plural releases
- countableuncountableThe event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.
2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200 - countableuncountablecomputingThe distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
- countableuncountableAnything recently released or made available (as for sale).
The video store advertised that it had all the latest releases.
- countableuncountableThat which is released, untied or let go.
They marked the occasion with a release of butterflies.
- countableuncountableLiberation from pain or suffering.
Synonyms: alleviation, relief, alleviation, comfort, consolation, ease, mercy, liss
- countableuncountablebiochemistryThe process by which a chemical substance is set free.
- countableuncountablesound synthesishuman sciencesThe act or manner of ending a sound.
- countablehistoricaluncountablerailwaysIn the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
- A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
- countableuncountableThe catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, triggered in the event of an overload.
- countableuncountableOrgasm.
She quivered in release.
Synonyms: climax, satisfaction, acme, big O, climax, completion, crisis, happy ending
- countableuncountableDischarged semen
His hot release pouring into her, filling her and adding to the wettness within her
1997 January 31, MKara50188, “Repost! Abduction (J/K, mild bondage, M/F sex)”, in alt.startrek.creative.erotica (Usenet) - countableuncountableentertainmentA kind of bridge used in jazz music.
verbrelease (third-person singular simple present releases, present participle releasing, simple past and past participle released)
present singular third person releases · participle present releasing · participle past released · past released
- transitiveTo discharge.
They released thousands of gallons of water into the river each month.
1 more example
The blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata has tetrodotoxin, the deadly toxin it also releases in a bite, in their ink but the concentrations and effect in inking are not known.
2017 August 9, Mark Carnall, “Why do cephalopods produce ink? And what's ink made of, anyway?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023 - transitivecommunications(of a call) To hang up.
If you continue to use abusive language, I will need to release the call.
- transitivelawTo let go, quit (a legal claim); to discharge or relinquish a right to (lands or buildings) by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession.
- transitiveball gamesTo set up; to provide with a goalscoring opportunity.
1 more example
With the Gunners far too lightweight in midfield, Mikel Arteta dropped back into a deeper-lying role. This freed Yossi Benayoun to go further forward, a move that helped forge a rare Arsenal chance on 30 minutes when the Israeli released Van Persie, only for the Dutchman's snap-shot to be tipped around the post.
2011 September 13, Sam Lyon, “Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2012 - biochemistryTo set free a chemical substance.
- intransitiveTo launch; to come out; to become available.
when the game releases
1 more example
the new model will release on ...
release2
verbrelease (third-person singular simple present releases, present participle releasing, simple past and past participle released)
present singular third person releases · participle present releasing · participle past released · past released
- transitiveTo lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounLiberation from pain or suffering.
Similar
Opposite
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe act of liberating someone or something
Similar
Broader
nounan announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation
Similar
Broader
nounthe termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Broader
nouneuphemistic expressions for death
nouna legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation
Similar
Broader
nouna formal written statement of relinquishment
Broader
noun(music) the act or manner of terminating a musical phrase or tone
Similar
tone ending
Broader
verbgrant freedom to; free from confinement
verbprepare and issue for public distribution or sale
Also see
absolveacquittancealleviationbring outbuttoncome out withcomfortconsolationdeliverdeparturedischargedismissaldismissioneaseejectexhaustexitexpelexpirationfiringfreefreeinggive upgoinghandoutissuelet goliberateliberationlisslooseloosenlossorgasmoutletpassingpress releasepublishput outreliefrelinquishrescueresignsacksackingsafety valvesecretesolacespillspillagespringturnunblockunfreezeunlooseunloosenventwaiver
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
release · noun, verb
- Proto-Italic*wre-
- Latinre-
- Old Frenchre-
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)leg-
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)leg-s-ós
- Latinlaxus
- Latinlaxō
- Vulgar Latin*laxicāre
- Vulgar Latin*lassicāre
- Old Frenchlaschier
- Old Frenchrelaschier
- Old Frenchrelaisser
- Middle Englishrelesen
- Englishrelease
From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).
More words from Middle English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →release · verb
- Proto-Italic*wre-
- Latinre-
- Old Frenchre-
- Middle Englishre-
- Englishre-
- Englishlease
- Englishrelease
Translations
Afrikaans publiseer, verlos
- publiseerto make available to the public
- verlosto free or liberate
- losto let go of
Ancient Greek λύσις, ἄφεσις
- λύσις (lúsis)event of setting free
- ἄφεσις (áphesis)event of setting free
- λύω (lúō)to free or liberate
Arabic أَطْلَقَ سَرَاح, حَرَّرَ
- أَطْلَقَ سَرَاح (ʔaṭlaqa sarāḥ)to free or liberate
- حَرَّرَ (ḥarrara)to free or liberate
- أَطْلَقَ (ʔaṭlaqa)to free or liberate
- سَرَّحَ (sarraḥa)to free or liberate
- حَرَّرَ (ḥarrara)to let go of
Bulgarian рели́йз, пу́скане
- рели́йз (relíjz)software: distribution of a computer software product
- пу́скане (púskane)product made recently available
- пу́скане (púskane)that which is released or let go
- облекче́ние (oblekčénie)liberation from pain or suffering
- освобожде́ние (osvoboždénie)event of setting free
- спу́сък (spúsăk)a device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required
- публикувам (publikuvam)to make available to the public
- пу́скам (púskam)to make available to the public
- пу́сна (púsna)to make available to the public
- освобожда́вам (osvoboždávam)to free or liberate
- освободя́ (osvobodjá)to free or liberate
- пускам (puskam)to let go of
- освобождавам (osvoboždavam)to let go of
Catalan versió, estrena
- versiósoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- estrenaproduct made recently available
- alliberatthat which is released or let go
- alliberamentevent of setting free
- estrenarto make available to the public
- publicarto make available to the public
- llançarto make available to the public
- alliberarto free or liberate
- amollarto discharge
- alliberarto let go of
Chinese Mandarin 發行 /发行, 發布 /发布
- 發行 /发行 (fāxíng)software: distribution of a computer software product
- 發布 /发布 (fābù)software: distribution of a computer software product
- 放開 /放开 (fàngkāi)event of setting free
- 鬆開 /松开 (sōngkāi)event of setting free
- 釋放 /释放 (shìfàng)event of setting free
- 釋放 /释放 (shìfàng)to free or liberate
- 解放 (jiěfàng)to let go of
- 放出 (fàngchū)to let go of
Czech vydání, uvolnit
- vydánísoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- uvolnitto let go of
Danish version, udgave
- versionsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- udgavesoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- udgaveproduct made recently available
- frislippendeevent of setting free
- offentliggøreto make available to the public
- frigiveto free or liberate
- løsladeto free or liberate
- befrito free or liberate
- slippeto let go of
Dutch kwijtschelding, uitbrengen
- kwijtscheldinglaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- uitbrengento make available to the public
- vrijlatento free or liberate
- loslatento let go of
Esperanto eldono, versio
- eldonosoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- versiosoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- liberigito free or liberate
Finnish julkaisu, julkaiseminen
- julkaisusoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- julkaiseminensoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- uutuusproduct made recently available
- vapautusthat which is released or let go
- vapauttaminenbiochemistry
- vapautusevent of setting free
- vapauttaminenevent of setting free
- julkistaato make available to the public
- vapauttaato free or liberate
- päästääto discharge
- irrottaato let go of
French version, sortie
- versionsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- sortieproduct made recently available
- parutionproduct made recently available
- remise de dettelaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- libérationbiochemistry
- lâcherevent of setting free
- relâcheevent of setting free
- sortirto make available to the public
- libérerto free or liberate
- quittancerto discharge
- lâcherto let go of
- libérerto let go of
German Version, Veröffentlichung
- Versionsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- Veröffentlichungproduct made recently available
- Freisetzungthat which is released or let go
- Schulderlasslaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- Entlassenevent of setting free
- veröffentlichento make available to the public
- freilassento free or liberate
- freisetzento free or liberate
- befreiento free or liberate
- freisetzento discharge
- loslassento let go of
Greek έκδοση, ελευθέρωση
- έκδοση (ékdosi)software: distribution of a computer software product
- ελευθέρωση (elefthérosi)that which is released or let go
- απελευθέρωση (apelefthérosi)that which is released or let go
Hebrew גרסה, כּוֹתָר
- גרסה (girsá)software: distribution of a computer software product
- כּוֹתָר (kotár)product made recently available
- הוציא לאור (hotzí l'ór)to make available to the public
- הוציא לשוק (hotzí l'shúk)to make available to the public
- שחררto discharge
- שחרר (shikhrér)to let go of
Hindi विमोचन, विमोचन
- विमोचन (vimocan)software: distribution of a computer software product
- विमोचन (vimocan)product made recently available
- प्रमोचन (pramocan)product made recently available
- मुक्ति (mukti)event of setting free
- प्रमोचन (pramocan)to make available to the public
- मुक्ति (mukti)to free or liberate
- छोड़ना (choṛnā)to let go of
Hungarian forgalomba hozás/hozatal, kibocsátás
- forgalomba hozás/hozatalsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- kibocsátássoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- megjelenéssoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- megjelentetéssoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- frissen forgalomba hozott termékproduct made recently available
- mentesítéslaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- felmentvénylaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- enyhülésliberation from pain or suffering
- szabadon bocsátás/engedésevent of setting free
- elengedésevent of setting free
- eleresztésevent of setting free
- kieresztésevent of setting free
- forgalomba hozto make available to the public
- megjelentetto make available to the public
- kibocsátto make available to the public
- nyilvánosságra hozto make available to the public
- közzéteszto make available to the public
- kiadto make available to the public
- kihozto make available to the public
- szabadon engedto free or liberate
- szabadon bocsátto free or liberate
- kiengedto free or liberate
- elengedto free or liberate
- engedto discharge
Icelandic útgáfa, útgáfur
- útgáfasoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- útgáfursoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- útgáfaproduct made recently available
- útgáfurproduct made recently available
- láta lausanevent of setting free
- útskrifaevent of setting free
- sleppato let go of
Irish scaoil amach, ligean
- scaoil amachevent of setting free
- ligeanevent of setting free
- scaoil amachto free or liberate
- scaoilto discharge
- scaoilto let go of
- scaoil amachto let go of
- scaoil deto let go of
Italian versione, remissione di debito
- versionesoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- remissione di debitolaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- liberazionebiochemistry
- distribuireto make available to the public
- rilasciareto free or liberate
- scaricareto discharge
- liberareto let go of
- rilasciareto lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back
Japanese リリース, 釈放
- リリース (rirīsu)software: distribution of a computer software product
- 釈放 (shakuhō)event of setting free
- 発売する (hatsubai suru)to make available to the public
- リリースする (rirīsu suru)to make available to the public
- 釈放する (shakuhō suru)to free or liberate
- 解放する (kaihō suru)to let go of
- 放す (hanasu)to let go of
Korean 릴리스, 발표
- 릴리스 (rilliseu)software: distribution of a computer software product
- 발표 (balpyo)software: distribution of a computer software product
- 석방 (seokbang)event of setting free
- 발매하다 (balmaehada)to make available to the public
- 석방하다 (seokbanghada)to free or liberate
- 풀어 주다 (pureo juda)to free or liberate
- 석방하다 (seokbanghada)to let go of
- 해방하다 (haebanghada)to let go of
- 풀어 주다 (pureo juda)to let go of
- 놓아 주다 (noa juda)to let go of
Lithuanian išleisti, paleisti
- išleistito make available to the public
- paleistito free or liberate
- atleistito let go of
Māori tuku, whakatangatanga
- tukuto let go of
- whakatangatangato let go of
- mahenoto let go of
Norwegian Bokmål slippe, gi ut
- slippeto make available to the public
- gi utto make available to the public
- frigito free or liberate
- slippe utto free or liberate
- slippe utto discharge
- slippeto let go of
Persian رهاسازی, رها کردن
- رهاسازی (rahâsâzi)event of setting free
- رها کردن (rahâ kardan)to let go of
Polish wersja, wydanie
- wersjasoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- wydaniesoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- nowośćproduct made recently available
- wyzwoleniethat which is released or let go
- uwolnieniethat which is released or let go
- wyzwolenieevent of setting free
- uwalniaćto free or liberate
- uwolnićto free or liberate
Portuguese lançamento, versão
- lançamentosoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- versãosoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- lançamentoproduct made recently available
- remissão de dívidalaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- liberaçãobiochemistry
- libertarevent of setting free
- liberarevent of setting free
- lançarto make available to the public
- publicarto make available to the public
- soltarto free or liberate
- liberarto free or liberate
- liberarto discharge
- soltarto let go of
- liberarto let go of
Romanian lansare, remiterea de datorie
- lansareproduct made recently available
- remiterea de datorielaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- eliberareevent of setting free
Russian рели́з, вы́пуск
- рели́з (relíz)software: distribution of a computer software product
- вы́пуск (výpusk)software: distribution of a computer software product
- ве́рсия (vérsija)software: distribution of a computer software product
- нови́нка (novínka)product made recently available
- рели́з (relíz)product made recently available
- освобожде́ние (osvoboždénije)event of setting free
- выпуска́ть (vypuskátʹ)to make available to the public
- вы́пустить (výpustitʹ)to make available to the public
- освобожда́ть (osvoboždátʹ)to free or liberate
- освободи́ть (osvobodítʹ)to free or liberate
- отпуска́ть (otpuskátʹ)to free or liberate
- отпусти́ть (otpustítʹ)to free or liberate
- отпуска́ть (otpuskátʹ)to let go of
- отпусти́ть (otpustítʹ)to let go of
- освобожда́ть (osvoboždátʹ)to let go of
- освободи́ть (osvobodítʹ)to let go of
- выпуска́ть (vypuskátʹ)to let go of
- вы́пустить (výpustitʹ)to let go of
Scottish Gaelic sgaoil, leig mu sgaoil
- sgaoilto free or liberate
- leig mu sgaoilto free or liberate
- sgaoilto let go of
- leig mu sgaoilto let go of
Spanish versión, lanzamiento
- versiónsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- lanzamientoproduct made recently available
- soltadothat which is released or let go
- descargadothat which is released or let go
- remisión de deudalaw: giving up of a claim; debt release
- liberaciónbiochemistry
- emisiónbiochemistry
- liberaciónevent of setting free
- libramientoevent of setting free
- disparadora device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required
- lanzarto make available to the public
- publicarto make available to the public
- soltarto make available to the public
- librarto make available to the public
- estrenarto make available to the public
- liberarto free or liberate
- libertarto free or liberate
- emanarto discharge
- emitirto discharge
- despedirto discharge
- desprenderto discharge
- despicharto discharge
Swedish version, utgåva
- versionsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- utgåvasoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- utgåvorsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- frisläppandeevent of setting free
- frigöringevent of setting free
- släppato make available to the public
- ge utto make available to the public
- frigeto free or liberate
- släppato let go of
- lössläppato let go of
Turkish serbest bırakma, neşretmek
- serbest bırakmaevent of setting free
- neşretmekto make available to the public
- yayımlamakto make available to the public
- yayınlamakto make available to the public
- hürriyetine kavuşturmakto free or liberate
- serbest bırakmakto free or liberate
- dışarı vermekto discharge
- tahliye etmekto let go of
- bırakmakto let go of
- salıvermekto let go of
Ukrainian ви́пуск, релі́з
- ви́пуск (výpusk)software: distribution of a computer software product
- релі́з (relíz)software: distribution of a computer software product
- визво́лення (vyzvólennja)event of setting free
- зві́льнення (zvílʹnennja)event of setting free
- випуска́ти (vypuskáty)to make available to the public
- ви́пустити (výpustyty)to make available to the public
- звільня́ти (zvilʹnjáty)to free or liberate
- звільни́ти (zvilʹnýty)to free or liberate
- відпуска́ти (vidpuskáty)to free or liberate
- відпусти́ти (vidpustýty)to free or liberate
- відпуска́ти (vidpuskáty)to let go of
- відпусти́ти (vidpustýty)to let go of
Vietnamese phiên bản, phát hành
- phiên bảnsoftware: distribution of a computer software product
- phát hànhto make available to the public
- thảto free or liberate
- giải phóngto free or liberate
- xảto discharge
- thảto let go of
Welsh rhyddhau, gollwng
- rhyddhauto free or liberate
- gollwngto let go of
Yiddish אַרויסגעבן, באַפֿרײַען
- אַרויסגעבן (aroysgebn)to make available to the public
- באַפֿרײַען (bafrayen)to free or liberate
- באַפֿרײַען (bafrayen)to let go of
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with release
increasenicepeaceGreeceleasedecreasefleececeaseMauricegreasereeseobeseysniececapricecreaseRhysapiecefilsmetisanisecerisemeesedecease
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
release. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/release
MLA
“release.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/release. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “release,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/release.
Source: release on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.