Release and let go are used in similar ways. Release is more formal than let go.
If you release a person or animal or let them go, you allow them to leave or escape.
To release or let go of something or someone also means to stop holding them.
Imperative |
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release |
release |
Noun | 1. | ![]() merchandise, product, ware - commodities offered for sale; "good business depends on having good merchandise"; "that store offers a variety of products" |
2. | ![]() accomplishment, achievement - the action of accomplishing something jail delivery - the use of force to liberate prisoners deregulating, deregulation - the act of freeing from regulation (especially from governmental regulations) relief - the act of freeing a city or town that has been besieged; "he asked for troops for the relief of Atlanta" disentanglement, extrication, unsnarling, untangling - the act of releasing from a snarled or tangled condition emancipation - freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent's relinquishing authority and control over a minor child clearing - the act of freeing from suspicion manumission - the formal act of freeing from slavery; "he believed in the manumission of the slaves" parole - (law) a conditional release from imprisonment that entitles the person to serve the remainder of the sentence outside the prison as long as the terms of release are complied with probation - (law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court; "probation is part of the sentencing process" | |
3. | release - a process that liberates or discharges something; "there was a sudden release of oxygen"; "the release of iodine from the thyroid gland" emission - the release of electrons from parent atoms natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" | |
4. | ![]() promulgation, announcement - a public statement containing information about an event that has happened or is going to happen; "the announcement appeared in the local newspaper"; "the promulgation was written in English" | |
5. | release - the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart) superannuation - the act of discharging someone because of age (especially to cause someone to retire from service on a pension) removal - dismissal from office deactivation, inactivation - breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges) honorable discharge - a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record dishonorable discharge - a discharge from the armed forces for a grave offense (as sabotage or espionage or cowardice or murder) Section Eight - a discharge from the US Army based on unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable | |
6. | release - euphemistic expressions for death; "thousands mourned his passing" euphemism - an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh | |
7. | ![]() legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | |
8. | release - a device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" | |
9. | release - activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion; "she had no other outlet for her feelings"; "he gave vent to his anger" activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" | |
10. | release - the act of allowing a fluid to escape | |
11. | release - a formal written statement of relinquishment relinquishing, relinquishment - the act of giving up and abandoning a struggle or task etc. granting immunity, exemption, immunity - an act exempting someone; "he was granted immunity from prosecution" | |
12. | ![]() music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner | |
Verb | 1. | ![]() muster out, discharge - release from military service unclasp - release from a clasp; "She clasped and unclasped her hands" pop - release suddenly; "pop the clutch" toggle - release by a toggle switch; "toggle a bomb from an airplane" unhand - remove the hand from unleash - release or vent; "unleash one's anger" let loose, loose, unleash - turn loose or free from restraint; "let loose mines"; "Loose terrible plagues upon humanity" unleash - release from a leash; "unleash the dogs in the park" |
2. | ![]() unspell - release from a spell unchain - make free bail - release after a security has been paid run - set animals loose to graze bail out - free on bail parole - release a criminal from detention and place him on parole; "The prisoner was paroled after serving 10 years in prison" | |
3. | release - let (something) fall or spill from a container; "turn the flour onto a plate" channel, channelise, channelize, transmit, transport, transfer - send from one person or place to another; "transmit a message" deflate - release contained air or gas from; "deflate the air mattress" throw - throw (a die) out onto a flat surface; "Throw a six" | |
4. | release - prepare and issue for public distribution or sale; "publish a magazine or newspaper" edit - supervise the publication of; "The same family has been editing the influential newspaper for almost 100 years" | |
5. | release - eliminate (a substance); "combustion products are exhausted in the engine"; "the plant releases a gas" cough out, cough up, expectorate, spit up, spit out - discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth blow - free of obstruction by blowing air through; "blow one's nose" abort - terminate a pregnancy by undergoing an abortion ovulate - produce and discharge eggs; "women ovulate about once every month" | |
6. | release - generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids; "secrete digestive juices"; "release a hormone into the blood stream" exudate, exude, ooze out, transude, ooze - release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities; "exude sweat through the pores" water - secrete or form water, as tears or saliva; "My mouth watered at the prospect of a good dinner"; "His eyes watered" | |
7. | release - make (information) available for publication; "release the list with the names of the prisoners" issue, supply - circulate or distribute or equip with; "issue a new uniform to the children"; "supply blankets for the beds" declassify - lift the restriction on and make available again; "reclassify the documents" | |
8. | release - part with a possession or right; "I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest"; "resign a claim to the throne" hand, pass on, turn over, pass, reach, give - place into the hands or custody of; "hand me the spoon, please"; "Turn the files over to me, please"; "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers" derequisition - release from government control | |
9. | release - release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions bring forth, generate - bring into existence; "The new manager generated a lot of problems"; "The computer bug generated chaos in the office"; "The computer generated this image"; "The earthquake generated a tsunami" | |
10. | release - make (assets) available; "release the holdings in the dictator's bank account" |