1. Stop holding on to; allow to move
   "release the door handle, please!";
   - let go of, let go, relinquish
    
2. Grant freedom to; free from confinement
   "The zookeepers released the rehabilitated animals back into the wild";
   - free, liberate, unloose, unloosen, loose
    
3. Part with a possession or right
   "I am releasing my bedroom to the long-term house guest";
   - relinquish, resign, free, give up
    
4. Make (assets) available
   "release the holdings in the dictator's bank account";
   - unblock, unfreeze, free
    
5. Make (information) available for publication
   "release the list with the names of the prisoners";
   - free
    
6. Prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
   "release a magazine or newspaper";
   - publish, bring out, put out, issue, drop [informal]
    
7. Let (something) fall or spill from a container
   "release the flour onto a plate";
   - turn
    
8. Eliminate (a substance)
   "the plant releases a gas";
   - exhaust, discharge, expel, eject
    
9. Generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
   "release a hormone into the blood stream";
   - secrete
    
10. (chemistry) release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition
    "The experiment released hydrogen gas";
    - free, liberate

1. Merchandise issued for sale or public showing (especially a record or film)
   "a new release from the London Symphony Orchestra"
    
2. The act of liberating someone or something
   "The release of the hostages was a delicate operation";
   - liberation, freeing
    
3. A process that liberates or discharges something
   "there was a sudden release of oxygen"; "the release of iodine from the thyroid gland"
    
4. An announcement distributed to members of the press in order to supplement or replace an oral presentation
   "The company issued a press release to announce their new product launch";
   - handout, press release
    
5. The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
   "His sudden release came as a shock to the department";
   - dismissal, dismission [rare], discharge, firing, sack, sacking, severance, heave-ho [informal], the axe [informal], the boot [informal], the chop [Brit, informal], chuck [Brit, informal], termination [N. Amer]
    
6. (law) a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation
   "Upon full payment, the creditor provided a release to the debtor";
   - acquittance
    
7. A formal written statement of relinquishment
   "He signed a release releasing the company from any liability";
   - waiver, discharge
    
8. (music) the act or manner of terminating a musical phrase or tone
   "The pianist executed a perfect release, letting the final note fade gently";
   - tone ending
    
9. A device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism
   "He pressed the release to open the car trunk";
   - button
    
10. Activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion
    "she had no other release for her feelings";
    - outlet, vent
     
11. The act of allowing a fluid to escape
    "The accidental release of gas prompted an evacuation";
    - spill, spillage
     
12. A euphemistic expression for death
    "The family gathered after his peaceful release";
    - passing, loss, departure, exit, expiration, going

Derived forms: releases, released, releasing

Type of: accomplishment, achievement, act, action, activity, air, alter, announcement, bare, bring forth, change, channel, channelise [Brit], channelize, conclusion, death, decease, device, eliminate, ending, expiry, exudate, exude, flow, generate, give, hand, instrument, issue, legal document, legal instrument, merch [informal], merchandise, modify, move, natural action, natural process, obviate, official document, ooze, ooze out, pass, pass on, product, promulgation, publicise [Brit], publicize, reach, relinquishing, relinquishment, rid of, stream, supply, termination, transfer, transmit, transude, turn over, ware

Antonym: block

Encyclopedia: Release