freely
gb/fɹˈili/ us/fɹˈili/
B1
English
~ 8200
szabadon, őszintén, nyíltan, önként, bőségesen, bőven, akadálytalanul, könnyedén, ingyenesen, díjmentesen, ingyen
B1
1
szabadon
A2
Usage pattern:
to [verb] freely
Citizens can now travel freely between the two countries.
Az állampolgárok most már szabadon utazhatnak a két ország között.
In a democracy, people should be able to vote freely.
Egy demokráciában az embereknek szabadon kell tudniuk szavazni.
The birds were released and allowed to fly freely in the reserve.
Information about the project is freely available online.
After the surgery he could finally move his arm freely again.
Learner examples
You are free to move freely in this area.
Ezen a területen szabadon mozoghatsz.
People can enter the park freely today.
Ma bárki szabadon bemehet a parkba.
Students can speak freely in this class.
You can choose freely from the menu.
Money moves freely between the two markets.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "free" and "freely". Use "freely" to describe HOW something is done (adverb), e.g. "People can move freely"; use "free" before nouns or after linking verbs, e.g. "free movement," "The people are free." Learners also sometimes say *"travel free"* when they mean "travel freely" (without restriction) rather than "travel for free" (without paying).
Meaning
without restriction or control
Collocations
move freely
|travel freely
|choose freely
|act freely
|flow freely across borders
|freely available
Synonyms
without restriction (Neutral description of having no limits, often used in formal or written contexts.)
|
unrestrictedly (More formal and less common adverb with the same basic meaning.)
Antonyms
under restriction (Describes an action limited by rules or controls.)
|
under control (Emphasizes control or limits placed on an action or situation.)
Themes
rights
|society
|travel
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|law
Definition
In a way that is not limited or controlled by rules, people, or things.
Without limits, control, or interference from rules, obstacles, or other people.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to speak/talk/write freely about [something]
Please feel you can speak freely in this meeting.
Kérem, érezzék úgy, hogy ezen a megbeszélésen nyíltan beszélhetnek.
In therapy she was finally able to talk freely about her childhood.
A terápián végre őszintén tudott beszélni a gyerekkoráról.
Journalists must be allowed to write freely without fear of punishment.
He shares his ideas freely with anyone who will listen.
Children in this family are encouraged to express themselves freely.
Learner examples
You can speak freely with your doctor.
Az orvosoddal őszintén beszélhetsz.
She talks freely about her life now.
Most már nyíltan beszél az életéről.
In this group, we share our ideas freely.
He does not write freely in his own language.
The students express their feelings freely in class.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up "freely" and "frankly". "Freely" means without fear or limits; "frankly" adds the idea of being very direct, which can sound rude in some situations. Also, avoid *"say freely me"*; say "speak freely to me" or "speak freely with me."
Meaning
openly and frankly in speech
Collocations
speak freely
|talk freely
|express themselves freely
|write freely about
|share freely
Synonyms
openly (Very close in meaning; common in both spoken and written English.)
|
frankly (Adds a nuance of being very direct, sometimes even blunt.)
Antonyms
cautiously (Shows that someone is careful and not fully open in what they say.)
|
guardedly (Emphasizes holding back true thoughts or feelings.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a way that shows what you really think or feel, without trying to hide it.
Openly and frankly, without hiding opinions, feelings, or information.
B2
3
önként
B1
Usage pattern:
to [verb] freely
Many volunteers freely gave their time to help after the flood.
Az árvíz után sokan önként ajánlották fel az idejüket a segítségnyújtásra.
Consent must be given freely, without any kind of pressure.
A beleegyezést önként, mindenféle nyomás nélkül kell megadni.
She shares her research freely with colleagues around the world.
The donors contributed freely, expecting nothing in return.
He freely admitted that he had made a mistake.
Learner examples
The woman freely gave food to the poor.
A nő önként adott ételt a szegényeknek.
He freely agreed to help us.
Önként vállalta, hogy segít nekünk.
They freely shared their ideas with the team.
I freely chose this job.
You must say yes freely, not because you are afraid.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with "for free" (without paying). "He worked freely" usually means he worked willingly, not that he worked without pay. To say there is no payment, use "for free" or "without pay."
Meaning
willingly and voluntarily
Collocations
give freely
|offer freely
|freely given consent
|freely choose to
|share knowledge freely
Synonyms
willingly (Very close in meaning; focuses on desire to do something.)
|
voluntarily (Often used in legal or formal contexts for actions done by choice, not by force.)
Antonyms
reluctantly (Shows that someone does something but does not really want to.)
|
under duress (Formal/legal phrase meaning done because of threat or force.)
Themes
relationships
|morality
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a way that shows you want to do something and are not forced.
Willingly and voluntarily, without being forced, pressured, or paid.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to use/apply/add [something] freely
Use the lotion freely on dry skin.
Száraz bőrre bőségesen vigye fel a testápolót.
Salt the potatoes freely if you like strong flavors.
Ha szereted az intenzív ízeket, sózd meg bőven a krumplit.
The company spends freely on marketing.
The teacher gives praise freely when students do well.
Paint was applied freely to create a bold effect.
Learner examples
You can use this cream freely on your hands.
Bőven kenhetsz ebből a krémből a kezedre.
He puts sugar freely in his tea.
Bőven tesz cukrot a teájába.
The cook uses oil freely in this dish.
She gives help freely to her neighbors.
They spend money freely on their children.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "freely" here means "without paying." In phrases like "Use the cream freely," it means "use a lot of it," not "use it without paying." Also, do not say *"very freely" when you just mean "a lot"; use "freely" or "a lot" by itself.
Meaning
in large or generous amounts
Collocations
use freely
|apply freely
|season freely
|give praise freely
|spread freely
Synonyms
generously (Focuses on kindness and large amounts given, especially with money or help.)
|
liberally (Often used for amounts in cooking or adding something, e.g., "season liberally".)
Antonyms
sparingly (Means using only a small amount, the opposite of using something freely.)
|
carefully (Suggests paying attention not to use too much of something.)
Themes
food
|health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
Using or giving a lot of something, not a small or careful amount.
In large or generous amounts, without trying to limit the quantity used or given.
B1
5
Usage pattern:
to move/breathe/dance freely
After the treatment she could finally move her shoulder freely.
A kezelés után végre szabadon tudta mozgatni a vállát.
When the dust cleared, he was able to breathe freely again.
Amikor elült a por, újra szabadon tudott lélegezni.
The dancer moved freely across the stage.
With practice, you will sing more freely and confidently.
The dog now walks freely after months of rehabilitation.
Learner examples
He can move his leg freely now.
Most már szabadon tudja mozgatni a lábát.
After the cold, she can breathe freely again.
A megfázás után újra szabadon tud lélegezni.
The child runs freely in the garden.
The artist draws freely on the paper.
With time, you will speak freely in English.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with "without rules." In a medical or physical context like "move freely" or "breathe freely," it means "without pain or difficulty," not "without rules." Context usually shows which meaning is intended.
Meaning
easily and with natural movement
Collocations
move freely
|breathe freely
|walk freely
|dance freely
|sing freely
Synonyms
easily (General word for something that is not difficult; less focused on natural movement.)
|
smoothly (Emphasizes flowing, continuous movement without stops.)
Antonyms
with difficulty (Shows that the action is hard or painful to do.)
|
stiffly (Describes movement that is tight, not relaxed or natural.)
Themes
health
|sports
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a way that is easy and natural, not stiff or difficult to move.
With ease and natural, relaxed movement, without stiffness or effort.
B2
6
Usage pattern:
to be given/provided freely
The software is freely available on the company website.
A szoftver ingyenesen elérhető a cég weboldalán.
Basic medical care is provided freely to all residents.
Az alapvető egészségügyi ellátást minden lakos számára ingyenesen biztosítják.
Educational materials are freely distributed to local schools.
The report can be downloaded freely from the government portal.
This service is not offered freely; you must subscribe first.
Learner examples
The app is freely available on the internet.
Az alkalmazás ingyenesen elérhető az interneten.
Water is given freely at the event.
Az eseményen ingyen adnak vizet.
The book is not freely available in my country.
The teacher shares the notes freely with students.
Music can be downloaded freely from this site.
Common mistake:
Learners often use "freely" instead of the more natural phrase "for free" in everyday speech. "Freely" with this meaning is much more common in formal or written English (e.g. "freely available online"), while "for free" is typical in conversation (e.g. "We got the tickets for free").
Meaning
without payment; for free
Collocations
freely available online
|provided freely
|freely accessible
|freely distributed
|freely offered
Synonyms
for free (Very common informal phrase meaning without payment.)
|
at no cost (Slightly more formal alternative, often in written or business English.)
Antonyms
for a fee (Shows that payment is required.)
|
at a cost (General opposite, indicating that you must give something, usually money.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|finance
Definition
Without paying money; for free.
Without requiring payment; at no cost to the person receiving something.
C1
TECHNICAL
7
szabadon
A2
Usage pattern:
to move/rotate/slide freely
The wheel should rotate freely on the axle.
A keréknek szabadon kell forognia a tengelyen.
The ball moves freely within the socket of the joint.
A gömbfej szabadon mozog az ízületi vápában.
For accurate results, the rod must slide freely along the guide.
In this model, particles are assumed to move freely in space.
The door does not swing freely because the hinges are rusty.
Learner examples
The wheel must turn freely for the machine to work.
A keréknek szabadon kell forognia ahhoz, hogy a gép működjön.
The arm bone moves freely in the shoulder joint.
A felkarcsont szabadon mozog a vállízületben.
The part should slide freely on the metal bar.
If the fan does not spin freely, it may be broken.
In this test, the object can move freely in the air.
Common mistake:
This technical sense is often understood like the everyday sense "without rules." In engineering or science contexts, it is more exact: it means not physically held or blocked by another part or force.
Meaning
able to move independently (technical)
Collocations
rotate freely
|move freely in the joint
|slide freely
|freely movable joint
|freely rotating wheel
Synonyms
unconstrained (Technical term meaning not limited or fixed by other forces or parts.)
|
independently (Focuses on moving by itself, not connected to other movements.)
Antonyms
fixed (Means held in one place and not able to move.)
|
restricted (General opposite, meaning movement is limited.)
Themes
science
|engineering
|technology
Definition
Able to move by itself and not held or fixed by something else, especially in science or engineering.
In a way that allows a part, body, or object to move independently, without being fixed or constrained by another part.
Grammar
Dictionary form
freely
IPA
GB/fɹˈili/
US/fɹˈili/
Syllables & stress
freely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (freely)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: freely
- Plural: freelies
Word family
Expressions
breathe freely
1/bɹˈið fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to breathe without difficulty
To take air in and out easily, without pain or a blocked nose or throat.
Examples
- Once the mask was removed, he was able to breathe freely again.
- The medicine helps you breathe freely at night.
flow freely
1/flˈoʊ fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to flow without blockage
For a liquid or gas to move without anything stopping it.
Examples
- After the surgeon cleared the artery, blood could flow freely again.
- Air needs to flow freely around the machine to keep it cool.
freely available
1/fɹˈili əvˈeɪləbəl/
fixed phrase
easy to get without restriction
Easy for anyone to get, usually without rules or payment stopping them.
Examples
- Accurate health information should be freely available to everyone.
- The data is freely available on the organization’s website.
give freely
1/ɡˈɪv fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to give willingly and generously
To give a lot of time, money, or help, because you want to and not because you must.
Examples
- Many people give freely to the charity each year.
- She gives freely of her time to support the local community.
move freely
1/mˈuv fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to move without restriction
To go from place to place without problems, rules, or pain stopping you.
Examples
- After the borders opened, people could move freely between the two countries.
- Following the operation, she was finally able to move freely again.
roam freely
1/ɹˈoʊm fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to wander without restriction
To walk or travel around where you want, without rules or fences stopping you.
Examples
- The animals can roam freely in the wildlife park.
- Children roamed freely in the large garden during the party.
speak freely
1/spˈik fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to speak openly and honestly
To say what you really think or feel, without fear or limits.
Examples
- You can speak freely here; nothing you say will leave this room.
- The host encouraged the guests to speak freely about their experiences.
think freely
1/θˈɪŋk fɹˈili/
fixed phrase
to think without restriction
To have ideas without fear, rules, or other people stopping your thoughts.
Examples
- Universities should be places where people can think freely.
- She felt she could finally think freely after moving away from home.