Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

free rein

Definition

the freedom to do, say, or feel what you want: The young film-makers were given free rein to experiment with new themes and techniques. He deliberately gave his emotions free rein as he played the sonata.Freedom to actOpportunity
(Definition of free rein from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“free rein” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

everything under the sun

everything that exists or is possible

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More