# liberate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈlɪb.ə.ɹeɪt/ · frequency rank #21,260

## Definitions
1. To set free, to make or allow to be free, particularly
2. To set free, to make or allow to be free, particularly
3. To set free, to make or allow to be free, particularly
4. To set free, to make or allow to be free, particularly
5. To acquire from an enemy during wartime, used especially of cities, regions, and other population centers.
6. To acquire from another by theft or force: to steal, to rob.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin līberātus, the perfect passive participle of līberō (“to set free, deliver”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from līber (“free”); see liberal.

## Easily confused with
- **liberty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberate-vs-liberty)
- **literate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberate-vs-literate)
- **liberated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberate-vs-liberated)
- **liberator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberate-vs-liberator)
- **liberal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberal-vs-liberate)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ilberate`, `lbierate`, `libberate`, `libearte`, `liberaet`, `liberatte`, `liberrate`, `libertae`, `libreate`, `liebrate`, `lliberate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/liberate