Release vs Send forth all legions

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Release

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Send forth all legions

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Send forth all legionsMost common: Release
 ReleaseSend forth all legions
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈliːs/","/rɪˈliːsɪz/","/rɪˈliːst/","/rɪˈliːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈliːs/","/rɪˈliːsɪz/","/rɪˈliːst/","/rɪˈliːsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //sɛnd fɔːθ ɔːl ˈliːdʒənz//🇺🇸 //sɛnd fɔrθ ɔl ˈlidʒənz//
MeaningTo let go of something or make it available.To send out or release a large group of people or things.
ExampleThey decided to release the new software update next week.The leaders called to **send forth all legions** to defend the realm.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsquickly, immediately, eventually, from, newly released, recently released, release somebody on bail, accidentally, slowly, quickly, from, into, officially, commercially, publicly, refuse to, be expected to, plan to, in, on, to, newly released, recently released, originally releasedsend forth armies, send forth troops, send forth forces, send forth resources, send forth messengers
Antonymscapture, retain, hold-
Common mistakesConfused with 'lease' - lease is to rent something., Sometimes used incorrectly as a reflexive verb, e.g., 'release myself'., Mistakenly used as a synonym for 'free' without context.Confusing 'send forth' with 'send out' which may imply a less formal tone., Using 'send forth' with non-human subjects, which can sound awkward or incorrect., Incorrectly assuming 'send' alone conveys the same grandiose meaning.
Usage notesUse 'release' when talking about letting go of something physically or making information available. It's appropriate in both casual and professional settings but should be avoided in very informal language.Often used in formal or literary contexts; may sound outdated in everyday conversation. Typically found in speeches or historical texts.

See it in real clips

Release
Send forth all legions

Frequently asked questions: Release vs Send forth all legions

What's the difference between Release and Send forth all legions?

Release: To let go of something or make it available. Send forth all legions: To send out or release a large group of people or things.

Which is more formal: Release and Send forth all legions?

Send forth all legions is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Release and Send forth all legions?

Release is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Release: They decided to release the new software update next week. Send forth all legions: The leaders called to **send forth all legions** to defend the realm.

Can I use Release and Send forth all legions interchangeably?

Not always. Release and Send forth all legions 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.