How to pronounce release
Say it like ree-LEES. Release has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce release. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- LEES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Release pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- LEESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of release
American and British speakers say release in essentially the same way: /riˈlis/ in the US and /rɪˈliːs/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LEES.
What does release mean?
- release, as from one's grip“Let go of the door handle, please!”“relinquish your grip on the rope--you won't fall”
- grant freedom to; free from confinement
- let (something) fall or spill from a container“turn the flour onto a plate”
- merchandise issued for sale or public showing (especially a record or film)“a new release from the London Symphony Orchestra”
- the act of liberating someone or something
- a process that liberates or discharges something“there was a sudden release of oxygen”“the release of iodine from the thyroid gland”
Where does release come from?
From Middle English relesen, relessen, from Old French relaisser (variant of relascher).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with release
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of release.
Questions about saying release
How do you pronounce release?
Say ree-LEES. The American pronunciation is /riˈlis/. In British English it is /rɪˈliːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in release?
Release has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEES). Broken into parts: ree · LEES.
Do Americans and Brits say release the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈlis/ and the British form is /rɪˈliːs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.