ril-EE-siz
/ɹɪˈlisɪz/
releases is pronounced ril-EE-siz (/ɹɪˈlisɪz/). Releases is the third-person singular or plural present tense of release, meaning to lets something go or to make information public. In pronunciation, it ends with an unstressed -es suffix that often reduces to a syllabic z sound after a voiced consonant, and the initial r is rhotacized in many varieties. Overall, it denotes the act of letting something go or making it available, depending on context.
Releases is the third-person singular or plural present tense of release, meaning to lets something go or to make information public. In pronunciation, it ends with an unstressed -es suffix that often reduces to a syllabic z sound after a voiced consonant, and the initial r is rhotacized in many varieties. Overall, it denotes the act of letting something go or making it available, depending on context.
"The company releases new software every quarter."
"She releases her emotional energy through painting."
"The prisoner is released after serving the term."
Pronounce as /rɪˈliːsɪz/ (US) or /rɪˈliːzɪz/ with the final -es sounding as a z. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: ri-LI-ses. The first syllable is a short, lax /ɪ/; the middle vowel is a long /iː/ in many accents when the stem is pronounced with a long vowel, and the final -es is an voiced z sound. Mouth position: start with a relaxed /r/, fold the tongue toward the alveolar ridge for /ɹ/; then a clear /iː/ or /i/ vowel, followed by /s/ and then /ɪz/ or /z/ depending on accent. Audio examples: you’ll hear it in “press releases” spoken quickly, aligning the /liː/ syllable with a longer vowel when enunciating clearly.
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing stress to make ri-LEASES (/riˈliːzɪz/) with stress on the first syllable; correct is on the second: /rɪˈliːsɪz/. 2) Slurring the final /z/ into a /s/ or dropping the final consonant; ensure you voice the final /z/ for a clear, z-sound. Practice by isolating the final -es as /ɪz/ or /z/ after the /s/. Use slow drills: release the middle vowel to a crisp /s/ and then voice the final consonant. Consistency in voicing makes it natural in connected speech.
US tends toward /rɪˈliːsɪz/ with a rhotic /r/ and a clear long /iː/ in the second syllable. UK often uses /rɪˈliːsɪz/ with less pronounced r-fulness in non-rhotic contexts; the middle vowel remains long /iː/. Australian typically mirrors US /rɪˈliːsɪz/ but may reduce vowels slightly in fast speech to /rɪˈlisɪz/ or /rəˈlisɪz/ in informal contexts. Key differences: rhoticity, vowel quality, and the linking of /l/ or /iː/ in rapid phrases; practice both with and without linking to ensure natural rhythm.
The difficulty lies in stabilizing the /ɪ/ vs /iː/ distinction in the first stressed syllable and accurately producing the final /z/ after /s/, particularly in rapid speech where the /s/ can blend with the following /ɪz/; many speakers also neutralize the middle vowel when linking to a following word. Focus on maintaining the secondary stress on the second syllable and keeping voicing consistent for the final /z/. Spaced repetition of the two target syllables helps cement the rhythm.
A word-specific point is the transition from the /liː/ onset to the final /sɪz/. In careful speech, you should hold the long /iː/ a touch longer before the /s/ onset, then immediately voice the final /z/. The dash between /liː/ and /zɪz/ is subtle; avoid a hiatus. When streaming, link the /liː/ to the subsequent /z/ with a smooth, almost seamless glide so you hear ri-LEES-ez rather than ri-LEES-iz, depending on speaker. IPA anchors: /rɪˈliːsɪz/ (US) or /rɪˈliːsɪz/ (UK).
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Releases comes from the verb release, which traces to Old French releaser (to loosen, set free) from Latin libertare (to free, liberate) and the Germanic sense of loosening bonds. The English noun release appears in Middle English with senses tied to liberating someone or something, or allowing it to escape. The suffix -es is a typical English 3rd-person present or plural marker, which after the base form release yields releases. Over time, the meaning broadened to include releasing information, a policy, or a product launch, as in “the company’s press releases.” The word’s core concept—making something free or accessible—remains consistent, with nuanced uses across contexts such as physical release (freedom, discharge) and release of media (film, software, data). The first known uses appear in early modern English texts, reflecting legal, religious, and administrative language, before expanding into everyday usage with technology and media. Today, releases commonly anchor business communication, software development, entertainment, and press-facing documents, while preserving the original sense of setting something free or making it available to the public.
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Words that rhyme with "releases"
-ses sounds
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