What does “free” mean?
- 1
adjectivecosting no money
Entry to the museum is free on Sundays.
- 2
adjectiveable to do what you want; not controlled or locked up
After ten years in prison, he was finally free.
- 3
adjectivenot busy, or not being used
Are you free on Saturday afternoon?
Free at a glance
- Part of speech
- adjective
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /fri/ · FREE
- Forms
- freer, freest
How to use “free” correctly
“-free” at the end of a word means “without”: “sugar-free”, “tax-free”. Say “for free” or just “free”, not “for freely”.
Common phrases with “free”
- for free
- free time
- feel free to
- sugar-free
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- available
- independent
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- busy
- expensive
Word family
- freedom
- freely
Idioms with “free”
- There's no such thing as a free lunch: You can't get something for nothing; there is always a hidden cost somewhere.
“free” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- best adjectiveA1better than all others
- better adjectiveA1of a higher standard or more suitable than something else
- big adjectiveA1large in size or amount
- different adjectiveA1not the same as another person or thing
- fine adjectiveA1healthy, well or acceptable
- first adjectiveA1coming before all others in time, order or importance
- full adjectiveA1holding as much or as many as possible
- great adjectiveA1very good or enjoyable