English

Verb

unleash ‎(third-person singular simple present unleashes, present participle unleashing, simple past and past participle unleashed)

1. To free from a leash, or as from a leash.

   He unleashed his dog in the park.

2. to let go; to release.

   He unleashed his fury.

   • 2011 October 1, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2 - 0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport:

     As Bent pulled away to the far post, Agbonlahor opted to go it alone, motoring past Gary Caldwell before unleashing a shot into the roof of the net.

3. To precipitate; to bring about.
   • 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times:

     People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?

Antonyms

• leash
• leash up

Translations