release

/ɹəˈliːs/

//ɹəˈliːs// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"release" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“release” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #856 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#856
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

release vs reverse
71% similar
release vs released
88% similar
release vs Reese
57% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for release
PropertyValue
Headwordrelease
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɹəˈliːs/
Letters7
Frequency rank#856
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “release” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). release lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for release is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹəˈliːs/. Corpus data places it at rank #856 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 15 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for release, with forms such as "erlease", "reelase", and "relaese". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "reverse", "released", "Reese", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher). The correct English form is release, spelled R-E-L-E-A-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
  2. 2
    The distribution, either public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product.
  3. 3
    Anything recently released or made available (as for sale).
  4. 4
    That which is released, untied or let go.
  5. 5
    The giving up of a claim, especially a debt.
  6. 6
    Liberation from pain or suffering.
  7. 7
    The process by which a chemical substance is set free.
  8. 8
    The act or manner of ending a sound.
  9. 9
    In the block system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.
  10. 10
    A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
  11. 11
    A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
  12. 12
    A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required.
  13. 13
    Orgasm.
  14. 14
    Discharged semen
  15. 15
    A kind of bridge used in jazz music.

Etymology

From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).

Synonyms

quietus

This word in other languages

liberación(Español)lâcher(Français)Entlassen(Deutsch)libertar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erlease,reelase,relaese,releaes,releasse,relesae,rellease,rleease,rrelease

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of release - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

erlease2reelase2relaese2releaes2releasse1relesae2rellease1rleease2
Edit distance from "release"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "release"?
"release" is spelled R-E-L-E-A-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹəˈliːs/.
What does "release" mean?
As a noun, "release" means: The event of setting (someone or something) free (e.g. hostages, slaves, prisoners, caged animals, hooked or stuck mechanisms).
What words are commonly confused with "release"?
"release" is commonly confused with "reverse", "released", "Reese". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "release"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "release" is /ɹəˈliːs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "release"?
From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “release”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-L-E-A-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹəˈliːs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “reverse” - see the side-by-side comparison. release vs reverse
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list