to free
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to free
To release someone or something from captivity, a difficult situation, or a physical restriction.
Die Feuerwehr konnte den eingeklemmten Fahrer aus dem Autowrack befreien.
The fire department was able to free the trapped driver from the car wreck.
to exempt from
To release someone from an unpleasant duty, burden, or worry.
Studenten mit geringem Einkommen können von den Studiengebühren befreit werden.
Students with low income can be exempted from tuition fees.
to free oneself
To get oneself out of a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Es gelang ihm, sich aus den Fesseln der Entführer zu befreien.
He managed to free himself from the kidnappers' restraints.
The word is easy to understand if you know its structure: the prefix 'be-' and the adjective 'frei' (free) together form the verb 'befreien' (to free). It literally means 'to make free'.
Die Organisation kämpft dafür, politische Gefangene zu befreien.
The organization fights to free political prisoners.
When freeing someone from physical captivity or a place, you use the preposition 'aus' with the dative. The structure is: jemanden (Akk) aus etwas (Dat) befreien (to free someone from something).
Es war schwer, das Tier aus der Falle zu befreien.
It was difficult to free the animal from the trap.
To express that someone is released from a duty, a burden, or a worry, you use the fixed preposition 'von' with the dative. The structure is: jemanden (Akk) von etwas (Dat) befreien (to free/exempt someone from something).
Ein gutes Gespräch kann einen von Sorgen befreien.
A good conversation can free someone from worries.
The verb can be used reflexively: 'sich befreien' (to free oneself). This means that the person frees themselves. Here too, 'aus' is used for physical situations and 'von' for abstract situations.
Er konnte sich aus dem brennenden Haus befreien.
He was able to free himself from the burning house.
to save / rescue
For a trapped person, both verbs are possible, but the emphasis is different. „Befreien“ mainly describes releasing someone from confinement or physical restriction, while „retten“ focuses on averting the danger. „Befreien“ fits a blocked door, whereas „retten“ is more appropriate when there is also a risk to life.
Die Feuerwehr befreite den Mann aus dem verschlossenen Keller.
The firefighters freed the man from the locked basement.
Die Feuerwehr rettete den Mann aus dem brennenden Keller.
The firefighters rescued the man from the burning basement.
