freely

English Online Dictionary. What means freely‎? What does freely mean?

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: frē'lē, IPA^(key): /ˈfɹiːli/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹili/
• Rhymes: -iːli

Etymology 1

From Middle English frely, freelich, from Old English frēolīc (“free, freeborn, glorious, stately, magnificent, noble, beautiful, charming”), equivalent to free +‎ -ly. Compare Middle Low German vrilik, vrigelik (“free”), Middle High German vrīlich (“free”).

Alternative forms

• frely (Scotland)

Adjective

freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)

1. Free; frank.
2. Generous; noble; excellent; beautiful; lovely.

Derived terms

• unfreely

Etymology 2

From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English frēolīċe (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free +‎ -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).

Adverb

freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)

1. In a free manner.

2. Without interference or restriction.

   talk freely
3. Of one's own free will.

Derived terms

• breathe freely

Translations

See also

• frankly
• openly
• costlessly

References

• “freely”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.