at liberty

USAGE SUMMARY

"at liberty" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is most commonly used when referring to someone being released from a situation of confinement or captivity, such as from prison or slavery. Example: After years of wrongful imprisonment, he was finally set at liberty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

He remains at liberty.

The Guardian

Generally he seemed loose, at liberty.

The New York Times - Arts

They feel at liberty to discriminate.

The New York Times - Books

At Liberty of London.

The New York Times - Style

She is now at liberty.

The New Yorker

Mullah Omar remains at liberty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Age estimates at recapture were also determined by adding time-at-liberty to backtransformed ages at tagging.

F1000Research

Is what's happening at Liberty Square grass-roots?

The New Yorker

In New Jersey, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

The New York Times - Arts

Liverpool's first win at Liberty Stadium.

BBC

Everyone at Liberty Park had mattresses to lay on.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, "at liberty" can add a touch of elegance or formality compared to simpler alternatives like "free" or "allowed".

Common error

Avoid using "at liberty" when a simpler term like "free" or "available" suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at liberty" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a state of freedom from confinement or restriction. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at liberty" is a prepositional phrase denoting freedom from confinement or restriction. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and its usage spans across various contexts including news, science, and academia, with a slightly formal tone. While "at liberty" is a valid phrase, simpler alternatives like "free" may be more appropriate for everyday conversation. Remember to use "at liberty" when a formal tone is desired and the context clearly indicates a previous state of restriction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free

Single word alternative that means without constraint or confinement.

unrestrained

Focuses on the lack of imposed limits or controls.

unconfined

Highlights the absence of physical boundaries or restrictions.

out of prison

Specifically refers to release from incarceration.

not detained

Implies a lack of legal holding or confinement.

authorized

Indicates having permission or the right to do something.

permitted

Similar to authorized, but can imply a more general allowance.

able to

Emphasizes the capability or possibility of performing an action.

allowed

Focuses on being granted the opportunity to act.

without restriction

Highlights the absence of limiting conditions or constraints.

FAQs

How can I use "at liberty" in a sentence?

"At liberty" typically describes a state of being free from confinement or restriction. For example, "After serving his sentence, he was finally "at liberty"."

What can I say instead of "at liberty" when referring to freedom?

Alternatives to "at liberty" include "free", "unrestrained", or "unconfined", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "I am at liberty to do that"?

Yes, saying "I am at liberty to do that" is grammatically correct. It means you have the permission or ability to do something. Alternatives include "I am "allowed to"" or "I am "permitted to"".

When is it appropriate to use "at liberty" versus more common alternatives?

"At liberty" is generally more formal. Use it when you want a more elevated or official tone. In everyday conversation, simpler alternatives like "free to" or "able to" are usually preferred.