26984 words

freestyle

11 definitions • 22 examples
1
a swimming race in which each competitor can use any stroke (= swimming style), but that is usually done using the front crawl (= a fast style of swimming in which the front of the body faces down and you move your arms over your head one after the other and kick with straight legs):

Examples:

He won the 400 metres freestyle.
She swam the 4 x 200 women's freestyle relay with three teammates.
2
a sports competition in which each competitor can use any style or method they choose:

Examples:

US skiers have excelled at every type of event — alpine, nordic, and freestyle.
He won the freestyle heavyweight wrestling title.
3
a style of dancing in which there are no particular steps (= movements) that must be performed, or in which steps from various different styles can be used:

Examples:

Each couple will perform two dances - one Latin or Ballroom, the other a freestyle.
She and her friends performed freestyle dance at local malls.
4
a style of rapping (= performing by speaking words over a strong rhythm) in which the performer does not prepare or write the words down before they start, or that does not keep to one particular subject or structure:

Examples:

Freestyle is straight off the top of your head. It's not written down.
In his live show he links his songs together with freestyles.
He got into a lengthy freestyle rap.
5
to rap (= perform by speaking words over a strong rhythm) in a way that is not prepared or written down before starting, or that does not keep to one particular subject or structure:

Examples:

The producer heard him freestyling on a local radio show and offered him a record deal.
She starts freestyling new rhymes partway through the performance.
6
to dance in a way that does not involve any particular steps (= movements) that must be performed, or in which steps from various different styles can be used:

Examples:

With street dance, dancers are encouraged to freestyle and wear what they want.
I just freestyled a few moves.
7
to talk without having planned what you are going to say:

Examples:

By the time the meal was over we were freestyling through our favourite movies.
Now she's on TV freestyling jokes with famous comedians.
8
to do something in a way that is not carefully planned or organized or that does not keep to particular rules or styles:

Examples:

For me programming is a hobby, so there is no pressure to learn specific "rules" — I'm freestyling.
I often cook without using a recipe. I’ll poke around in the fridge and cupboards and just freestyle.
I think these regulations are too important for us to casually freestyle changes.
9

Examples:

This is a freestyle trip, not a package tour, so wander wherever and do whatever you feel like.
The live performance sounds different to the album: funkier, jazzier, more freestyle and immediate.
10
in a way that is not carefully planned or organized, or does not keep to particular rules or styles:

Examples:

Some programming environments are rigorous, constraining how the programmer works so that everything can be checked, and others are exploratory, leaving the programmer to work freestyle.
You can just enjoy drumming to your favourite music and do it freestyle.
11
a sports competition, esp. a swimming race, in which each competitor can choose to use any style or method, or a style of swimming in which you lie on your front and move first one arm then the other over your head, while kicking your legs

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