Free means not controlled, restricted, or trapped. A bird flying through open sky is free, while a caged bird is not. When you finish your homework and have no more obligations for the evening, you're free to play or read. A country where citizens can speak their minds, choose their leaders, and live without fear of persecution is called a free country.

The word also means costing nothing. A free sample at the grocery store doesn't require payment. When a museum offers free admission, anyone can visit without buying a ticket. People sometimes say “there's no such thing as a free lunch” to remind us that even when something appears free, someone somewhere is paying the cost.

You can free something by releasing it from captivity or constraint. A kind person might free a butterfly caught in a spider's web. When you untangle a kite from tree branches, you free it so it can fly again.

Freedom matters deeply to human beings. Throughout history, people have fought and sacrificed to secure freedom for themselves and others. The opposite of free is captive, imprisoned, restricted, or enslaved.