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free

A1
UK/friː/US/friː/

Universal

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Definition

Meaning

Not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.

1. Provided without payment. 2. Not physically constrained or attached. 3. Unrestricted in scope or availability. 4. Not subject to or affected by something undesirable.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The adjective 'free' has both a 'liberty' sense and a 'gratis' sense, which are distinct but related via the concept of 'absence of constraint' (cost being one such constraint). The verb sense means to release from constraint.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minor. In the 'gratis' sense, 'for free' is slightly more common and informal in AmE, while 'free' alone is standard in both. 'Free of' and 'free from' are used interchangeably, with 'free of' being more common in AmE, especially in formal contexts.

Connotations

Strongly positive in both varieties, associated with liberty, generosity, and lack of restriction.

Frequency

Extremely high frequency in all registers in both varieties.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
free timefree speechfree samplefeel freeset free
medium
free accessfree advicefree and easyfree pass
weak
free spiritfree reinfree gift

Grammar

Valency Patterns

free (sb/sth) from sthfree (sb/sth) of sthbe free to do sth

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

independentunfetteredunchained

Neutral

liberatedunrestrictedcomplimentarygratis

Weak

openavailablecostless

Vocabulary

Antonyms

confinedrestrictedexpensivebusyoccupied

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “free as a bird”
  • “a free hand”
  • “get off scot-free”
  • “for free”
  • “home free”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Free trial, freemium model, free delivery, duty-free.

Academic

Free variable, free will, free association (psychology).

Everyday

Are you free on Friday? The app is free to download.

Technical

Free fall, free energy, free radical, free software.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The charity works to free animals from laboratory testing.
  • He finally managed to free the rusted bolt.

American English

  • The activists fought to free the wrongfully convicted man.
  • Can you help me free this jammed printer tray?

adverb

British English

  • The children ran free across the moors.
  • The prize was given away free with purchase.

American English

  • The dog was let free in the park.
  • They were giving out samples free at the mall.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • The water in the restaurant is free.
  • Are you free this afternoon?
  • The cat wants to go free outside.
B1
  • You are free to leave whenever you wish.
  • They offered a free upgrade to our hotel room.
  • It's important to have a free press in a democracy.
B2
  • The new policy is designed to free up resources for critical projects.
  • Her writing style is remarkably free from technical jargon.
  • He felt a sense of being truly free for the first time in years.
C1
  • The philosopher argued that true moral action must be born of free will.
  • The agreement aims to create a free trade zone across the continent.
  • She spoke with a candour that was both disarming and utterly free of malice.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a 'FREE' bird: it Flys Released, Embracing Emptiness (no cages, no cost).

Conceptual Metaphor

FREEDOM IS SPACE TO MOVE (e.g., 'give me some free room'); LACK OF COST IS A GIFT (e.g., 'a free lunch').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Confusing 'free' (свободный) with 'available' (свободный/доступный). In English, 'free' for time, 'available' for things/tickets. The Russian 'бесплатный' is only the 'gratis' sense of 'free'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'for free' in very formal writing. Saying 'I am free *in* the weekend' instead of 'I am free *at* the weekend (BrE) / *on* the weekend (AmE)'. Using 'free from' when 'free of' (charge/duty) is the fixed phrase.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the revolution, the political prisoners were finally .
Multiple Choice

In which sentence does 'free' mean 'without payment'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in informal contexts, especially in American English. In formal writing, 'free' or 'free of charge' is preferred.

They are often interchangeable. 'Free from' often suggests liberation from something negative (free from pain). 'Free of' is common for physical absence (free of impurities) and in fixed phrases (free of charge, duty-free).

Yes. It means to release, liberate, or make something available (e.g., 'free the hostages', 'free up some time').

It's a polite invitation or permission. 'Feel free to help yourself to coffee.' It is not used to describe an emotional state of feeling liberated.

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Basic Adjectives

A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.

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