1 without anyone trying to prevent or control sth:
the country's first freely elected president * EU citizens can now travel freely between member states. * the right to worship freely * Prices are higher than they would be if market forces were allowed to operate freely.
2 without anything stopping the movement or flow of sth:
When the gate is raised, the water can flow freely. * Traffic is now moving more freely following an earlier accident. * The book is now freely available in the shops (= it is not difficult to get a copy). * Once into the open street they could breathe more freely. * (figurative) The wine flowed freely (= there was a lot of it to drink).
3 without trying to avoid the truth even though it might be unpleasant or embarrassing:
I freely admit that I made a mistake. * Both players freely acknowledge that money was a major incentive.
4 in an honest way without worrying about what people will say or do:
For the first time he was able to speak freely without the fear of reprisals against his family.
5 in a willing and generous way:
Millions of people gave freely in response to the appeal for the victims of the earthquake. * She has always given freely of her time.
6 a piece of writing that is translated freely is not translated exactly but the general meaning is given
