Free vs Not bound to his fate

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

Free

Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective

Not bound to his fate

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Free
 FreeNot bound to his fate
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːə(r)/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːər/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/🇬🇧 //nɒt baʊnd tʊ hɪz feɪt//🇺🇸 //nɑt baʊnd tʊ hɪz feɪt//
MeaningNot costing money or not being controlled by someone.not controlled by what will happen to him
ExampleThe concert tickets are free for everyone.He felt he was not bound to his fate and could choose his path.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, 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, totallynot bound to, escape from fate, challenge fate
Antonymsexpensive, costly-
Common mistakesConfused with 'free of' which implies absence instead of no cost., Using with continuous tenses incorrectly, e.g., 'I am freeing my weekend.'Confused with similar phrases like 'bound to his fate', Using in inappropriate contexts, like light-hearted discussions
Usage notesUse 'free' in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in a context where it implies lack of value or worth.This phrase can be used in philosophical discussions. Avoid in casual conversations for simpler expressions.

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Free
Not bound to his fate

Frequently asked questions: Free vs Not bound to his fate

What's the difference between Free and Not bound to his fate?

Free: Not costing money or not being controlled by someone. Not bound to his fate: not controlled by what will happen to him

Which is more common: Free and Not bound to his fate?

Free is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Free: The concert tickets are free for everyone. Not bound to his fate: He felt he was not bound to his fate and could choose his path.

Can I use Free and Not bound to his fate interchangeably?

Not always. Free and Not bound to his fate 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.

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