unleash

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ʌnˈliʃ/ UK /ʌnˈliːʃ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to release from restraint and allow free action

The storm unleashed torrents of rain on the coast.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to release from restraint... release loose unloose free liberatelet loosedischarge

Opposites

leash restrain check curb contain

Word family

Derived forms unleashedunleashing

Related forms leashleashed

Etymology

From un- ('reverse') + leash, from Old French laisse ('thong, leash'), from laissier ('to let go, leave'), from Latin laxare ('to loosen'), from laxus ('loose').

un- Old English laisse Old French laxare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# unleash

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈliʃ/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈliːʃ/

## Meanings
1. to release from restraint and allow free action

## Examples
- The storm unleashed torrents of rain on the coast.

## Synonyms
- release
- loose
- unloose
- free
- liberate
- let loose
- discharge

## Antonyms
- leash
- restrain
- check
- curb
- contain

## Derived Forms
- unleashed
- unleashing

## Related Forms
- leash
- leashed

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: un-
- Root: laisse
- Root: laxare

## Etymology
From un- ('reverse') + leash, from Old French laisse ('thong, leash'), from laissier ('to let go, leave'), from Latin laxare ('to loosen'), from laxus ('loose').

## AI Etymology
Unleash is from un- ('reverse') + leash, from Old French laisse ('thong, leash'), from laissier ('to let go, leave'), from Latin laxare ('to loosen'), from laxus ('loose'). Important recorded forms include un- (Old English), laisse (Old French), and laxare (Latin). Morphologically, the un- element marks negation, reversal, removal, or deprivation, while the base supplies the action, quality, or state being denied or undone. The modern sense is largely compositional, with the historical elements narrowing into a stable English lexical item. In current use it covers to release from restraint and allow free action. The wider family includes derived forms such as unleashed and unleashing and related words such as leash and leashed.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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