1 B1 neutral
To make time available in your schedule by finishing or removing other commitments.
"If I cancel my afternoon meeting, it will free up two hours for the report."
separable
free up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To make time, space, money, or resources available by removing what was previously using them.
In plain English
To make something available that was busy or being used before.
What does "free up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To release money, memory, or other resources so they can be used for something else.
"Deleting those old apps freed up a lot of storage on my phone."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To release a person from a task or obligation so they can do something else.
"Hiring an assistant freed up the manager to focus on strategy."
separable
Usage tip
Widely used in business, technology, and everyday contexts. Common in both British and American English. Often used with abstract nouns like 'time', 'space', 'memory', 'resources', or 'cash'.
Words that pair with "free up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
time space memory resources cash capacity
How to conjugate "free up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
free up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
frees up
he/she/it
Past simple
freed up
yesterday
Past participle
freed up
have + pp
-ing form
freeing up
continuous
Hear "free up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "free up"
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Keep exploring
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