Meaning & use
free weights
Last updated
Meanings
nounplural
Weights that you lift by hand, such as dumbbells and barbells, rather than a machine.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun and usually takes a plural verb: Free weights are cheaper than machines.
Patterns
- use free weights
- train with free weights
- a set of free weights
She bought a set of free weights for her home workouts.
Most athletes train with free weights in the morning and do cardio later.
Free weights are cheaper than gym machines but need more balance.
nounbefore a noun
One such piece of equipment, used before another noun to describe it.
Grammar: Here it works like an adjective in front of a noun, so it stays singular: a free weight bench, not free weights bench.
Patterns
- free weight exercise
- free weight bench
- free weight training
Squats are a good free weight exercise for beginners.
He keeps a free weight rack in the corner of the garage.
Free weight training builds balance as well as strength.
Common combinations
- lift free weights
- He lifts free weights three times a week.
- a set of free weights
- A set of free weights makes a great birthday present.
- train with free weights
- They train with free weights instead of machines.
- free weight exercise
- Push-ups and free weight exercises work the same muscles.
- free weight training
- Free weight training is popular with people who want to build muscle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dumbbells
- Dumbbells are one specific type of free weight, so use it when you mean the short bars you hold in each hand.
- barbells
- Barbells are the long bars you load with plates, so it fits when the weight is a single long bar rather than hand weights.
- weights
- Weights is a broader everyday word that can also mean machine weights, while free weights specifically excludes machines.
Opposites
Word family
- free weight noun
- The singular form for one piece of this equipment.
- weightlifter noun
- A person who lifts heavy weights as a sport.
- weightlifting noun
- The sport or activity of lifting heavy weights.
Commonly confused: free weights or free weight?
free weights vs free weight
Free weight is the singular form for one piece of equipment; free weights is the plural used for the equipment as a whole.
Practice
Which sentence uses the noun correctly?
Choose one answer.
The plural form free weights is used for the equipment in general, so 'with free weights' is correct. Option 2 uses the singular, which only works before another noun, and option 3 wrongly puts 'a' before a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “free weights”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.