Cool MateAvailable vs Free
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Available
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Free
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Available | Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈveɪləbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈveɪləbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːə(r)/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːər/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/ |
| Meaning | Able to be used or accessed; not busy. | Not costing money or not being controlled by someone. |
| Example | The new book is available at the library now. | The concert tickets are free for everyone. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, become, make something, easily, freely, readily, for, from, to, be, become, not available for comment | be, keep something, completely, entirely, totally, be, seem, become, completely, be, come, absolutely, completely, entirely, for free, free of charge, for, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, become, remain, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally |
| Antonyms | unavailable, busy, occupied | expensive, costly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'available' vs 'availabe' (spelling error), Using 'available' when referring to things that are occupied, like a chair or place, Incorrectly saying 'is available for' without an object, like 'He is available for help.' | Confused with 'free of' which implies absence instead of no cost., Using with continuous tenses incorrectly, e.g., 'I am freeing my weekend.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'available' to describe things that can be used or people who are free. Avoid in overly casual contexts, like among close friends. | Use 'free' in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in a context where it implies lack of value or worth. |
Frequently asked questions: Available vs Free
What's the difference between Available and Free?
Available: Able to be used or accessed; not busy. Free: Not costing money or not being controlled by someone.
Are Available and Free the same CEFR level?
Available: A2, Free: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Available and Free interchangeably?
Not always. Available and Free are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.