liberar
“liberar” means “to free” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to free, to set free
Also: to release, to exempt
📝 In Action
El juez ordenó liberar al acusado por falta de pruebas.
B1The judge ordered the accused to be freed due to lack of evidence.
Quiero liberar a mi perro de la correa para que corra.
A2I want to free my dog from the leash so he can run.
La organización trabaja para liberar a los animales de granjas industriales.
B2The organization works to free animals from factory farms.
to release, to discharge
Also: to launch, to issue
📝 In Action
La farmacéutica liberó los resultados de los ensayos clínicos.
B2The pharmaceutical company released the results of the clinical trials.
El volcán liberó una gran cantidad de ceniza a la atmósfera.
B1The volcano released a large amount of ash into the atmosphere.
Por fin van a liberar la nueva versión del juego.
B1They are finally going to release the new version of the game.
to free up, to clear
Also: to vacate
📝 In Action
Borré muchos archivos para liberar espacio en mi teléfono.
B2I deleted a lot of files to free up space on my phone.
Si terminamos temprano, podemos liberar tiempo para otras tareas.
C1If we finish early, we can free up time for other tasks.
Necesitamos liberar la mesa para la próxima reunión.
B2We need to clear the table for the next meeting.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "liberar" in Spanish:
to clear→to discharge→to exempt→to free→to issue→to launch→to release→to vacate→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: liberar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'liberar' in the sense of 'to release a product or information'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *līberāre*, which meant 'to set free.' It has been in use in Spanish since the Middle Ages, keeping its core meaning unchanged.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'liberar' reflexive? Can I use 'liberarse'?
Yes! 'Liberarse' is very common and means 'to free oneself' or 'to get rid of.' For example, 'Me liberé de la deuda' (I freed myself from the debt).
How is 'liberar' different from 'soltar'?
'Liberar' is generally a more formal word used for important actions like freeing prisoners or releasing official documents. 'Soltar' is more casual and often means 'to let go' or 'to drop' something small, like releasing a ball or letting go of a rope.