liberate

BrE /ˈlɪbəreɪt/ AmE /ˈlɪbəreɪt/

verb en → es

past liberated pp liberated ing liberating

1 FREE [transitive] B2

to set someone free from prison, control, or a difficult situation

liberar, poner en libertad

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate prisoners · liberate a country from occupation

  • The army liberated the city.

    El ejército liberó la ciudad.

2 EMANCIPATE [transitive] C1

to free someone from an unfair situation or a bad habit, allowing them to be more independent and happy

liberar, emancipar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate someone from poverty · liberate oneself from addiction

  • The new law will liberate women in this country.

    La nueva ley liberará a las mujeres en este país.

3 RELEASE [transitive] B2

to release something that has been trapped or contained, allowing it to move freely

liberar, soltar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate a prisoner · liberate gas from the soil

  • The earthquake liberated large amounts of methane.

    El terremoto liberó grandes cantidades de metano.

4 REVOKE [transitive] C1

to remove restrictions or limitations on something, allowing it to be used more freely

liberar, revocar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate a market from regulations · liberate speech

  • The government is planning to liberate the economy.

    El gobierno planea liberar la economía.

5 UNLEASH [transitive] C1

to release something that was previously restrained or controlled, often with negative consequences

liberar, desatar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate a flood of emotions · liberate a storm of criticism

  • The news report liberated a storm of public anger.

    El informe desató una tormenta de ira pública.

6 RESCUE [transitive] B2

to rescue someone from danger or captivity, often in a dramatic way

liberar, rescatar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate hostages · liberate a kidnapped child

  • The police liberated the hostages from the bank.

    La policía liberó a los rehenes del banco.

7 EMANCIPATE [transitive] C1

to free someone from an oppressive or restrictive situation, often through political or social change

liberar, emancipar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate a society from oppression · liberate women's rights

  • The revolution liberated the people from tyranny.

    La revolución liberó al pueblo del tirano.

8 RELEASE [transitive] B2

to release something that has been trapped or contained, allowing it to move freely

liberar, soltar

  • liberate somebody/something

Collocations liberate a prisoner · liberate gas from the soil

  • The earthquake liberated large amounts of methane.

    El terremoto liberó grandes cantidades de metano.