unleashed

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   Past form of unleash: released a strong force, feeling or power that had been held back or that people could not easily control.

   Grammar: Always takes an object: the coach unleashed his anger.

   Patterns

   • unleash something on someone
   • unleash something against something

   The goalkeeper's mistake unleashed a roar of anger from the crowd.

   The company unleashed its new phone on the market last week.

   Her sudden question unleashed a flood of memories.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounliterary

   Freed from limits or control, and acting with full, wild energy.

   Grammar: Usually used before a noun or after a verb like seem: an unleashed storm.

   Patterns

   • unleashed on something

   The unleashed fury of the sea battered the harbor.

   Once the team felt unleashed, they played their best game of the season.

   He seemed unleashed after months of strict rules.

Word forms

Common combinations

unleashed fury

The unleashed fury of the crowd shocked the officials.

unleashed a torrent of

The review unleashed a torrent of angry messages.

unleashed on the world

The film was unleashed on the world in the spring.

unleashed potential

The new training unleashed the potential of the younger players.

Synonyms and how they differ

released

Released is neutral and can mean any letting go, while unleashed suggests something powerful or dangerous.

triggered

Triggered stresses causing a reaction, whereas unleashed stresses the size of what comes out.

let loose

Let loose is more informal and often sounds playful, while unleashed sounds dramatic.

Opposites

Word family

unleash verb

to set free a strong force

leash noun

a strap used to hold a dog

leashed adjective

held on a leash

Commonly confused: unleashed or unlashed?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “unleashed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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