libertar

Senses

1. 1.

   to free, to liberate, to set free

   to release someone from captivity, oppression, or constraint

2. 2.

   to release, to deliver

   to free someone from an obligation, burden, or negative state

3. 3.

   to liberate oneself, to break free

   reflexive: to free oneself from something restricting

Examples

• "Os reféns foram libertados após três dias de negociação."

  The hostages were freed after three days of negotiation.

• "Ela conseguiu se libertar dos medos que a paralisavam."

  She managed to free herself from the fears that paralyzed her.

• "O movimento lutou para libertar o país da ditadura."

  The movement fought to liberate the country from dictatorship.

Usage

Formal/literary register, often used in political, historical, or emotional contexts. Common collocations: libertar prisioneiros (free prisoners), libertar-se de (free oneself from). The reflexive form "libertar-se" is very common. Don't confuse with "liberar" (to allow, permit, authorize), which is less formal and more administrative.