Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

freely

/ˈfɹili/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.07 in modern English

Syllables: freely
IPA: /ˈfɹili/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

adj

Generous; noble; excellent; beautiful; lovely.

adv

In a free manner.

adv

Without interference or restriction.

adv

Of one's own free will.

Example Sentences

"Wine was flowing freely."
"talk freely"
"I found that the Chapelon steamed almost too freely, because on a strange locomotive and road one usually tends to overfire a little through a natural lack of confidence."
"I will freely help you."

Etymology

From Middle English frely, freelich, from Old English frēolīc (“free, freeborn, glorious, stately, magnificent, noble, beautiful, charming”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Middle Low German vrilik, vrigelik (“free”), Middle High German vrīlich (“free”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: frely, frēolīc, frēolīċe
Suffix: free

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɹili/
British English: /ˈfɹiːli/

Inflected Forms

freelier (comparative) more freely (comparative) freeliest (superlative) most freely (superlative) frely (alternative)

Derived Forms

unfreely

Phrases

breathe freely at will

Frequently Paired Words

at will frankly openly costlessly

Rhymes With

ideally healy healey swahili greeley steely seeley neely feely keeley demille mealy

Questions

How do you pronounce freely?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɹili/.
What does freely mean?: Free; frank.
Where does freely come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce freely

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “freely”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfɹili/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “freely”.
Repeat and practice — Say “freely” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.