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to release

to release

925 1.8
To make a product or information available to the public
  • verb
  • /rɪˈliːs/
translation icon : publicar
  • Michael Jackson just released a new single called "Beat It."
  • release a report
  • recently released
  • release a film

And every Monday I release a sketch comedy skit.

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Examples

  • This is one of the 12 Steve Prefontaine movies being released this year.

  • The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ lobbying group, also released a statement to Inside Higher Ed.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Their names have just been released by police.

  • The French finally released it.

  • What's the last thing that Apple released that was a new product?

  • Have you seen what they officially released?

  • The exact items used for the cognitive assessment were not released to the public.

    Academic text (2013)
  • We must've watched that tape 500 times before releasing it to the public.

  • The Berkeley team visited Ecuador in January 1992 and released its report two months later.

    Academic text (1999)
  • After months of development, the software company is ready to release the new app to the public next week.

Synonyms

to announce
vsto release
1.5

To tell people officially about something, often in public

does not always make something available and can simply inform
to publish
vsto release
3.3

Make a book or article available to the public

is not confined to printed or online texts and covers other items
to issue
vsto release
  • Formal
904 2.5

To officially give documents or supplies to people

is not necessarily an official or formal act in everyday use
to come out
vsto release
563 3.0

To become available to the public, for example when a book or album is released

is an act done by someone rather than simply happening on its own
to put out
vsto release
255 3.6

Publish something like a book or magazine for people to buy

is not about preparation steps and covers broader availability
to disclose
vsto release
234 4.1

To tell people information that was secret

is not limited to revealing secrets and applies in open contexts
to distribute
vsto release
232 2.7

Make something available for people to buy or use

is not focused on channel delivery and can be more general
to publicize
vsto release
94 4.0

Make something known to many people using news or social media

is the act of providing availability rather than mainly seeking attention
to free
vsto release
74 2.8

To make information or documents available after being kept back

does not require prior restriction removal and can be general availability
to just come out
vsto release
50 3.0

To become available very recently, for example a book or film

is not about recency and can apply at any time
to divulge
vsto release
45 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

is not specifically about private facts and applies to all public materials
to roll out
vsto release
43 3.9

To introduce a new product or service to the public

does not always imply a planned staged launch process
to bring on
vsto release
39 3.3

Introduce a new product, show, or book to the public

is broader and not limited to formal introductions or shows
to bring out
vsto release
12 2.7

Make a product, book or film available to the public

is not limited to introductions or launches and applies widely
to bring to market
vsto release
9 3.5

To make a new product ready for people to buy

is not limited to commercial sale and covers noncommercial availability
to push out
vsto release
  • Jargon
8 3.5

To send updates or new content to users over the internet

does not require electronic delivery and applies beyond digital contexts
to break out
vsto release
4 3.5

To introduce a new product or service to people

is not restricted to initial launches and can be used anytime
2 3.4

To tell important news to many people in public

is the routine act of making things available without special ceremony
promulgated
vsto release
  • Formal
7.2

Officially made public by a government or other authority

is not confined to formal declarations by authorities in all cases

Antonyms

210 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

Idioms

1 9.9

To let loose something powerful and hard to control

by press release
  • Literature
3.6

Through an official announcement a company sends to the news media

Phrasal Verbs

Allow a parked car to move by letting the handbrake go

Compounds

press release
  • Literature
94 2.5

An official message sent to the news media to give information

time-release
  • Specialized
2 5.4

Releases medicine slowly into the body over several hours

3.6

A new version of a film or album that people put out before

7.5

Announcing official decisions to the public by press release before any internal discussion

How Public

to launch
504 3.7
to publish
3.3
to release
925 1.8
to disclose
234 4.1
to announce
1.5

Surface Forms

release infinitive
released past
released past participle
releasing present participle
releases third person singular

Morphology

release = lease (opaque) = re + lease

The sense 'make available to the public' is a metaphorical extension of 'set free', but the morphological parts ('re-' + 'lease') do not transparently lead to this meaning for learners who know 'lease' as 'rent'.

Etymology

Release comes from the parts re- 'back' and the French verb laisser 'to let'. A helpful image is 'letting out' a new product, so to release something to the public is to let it out for people to use.