free rein

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But others allow the companies free rein, according to state regulators.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

“One of the things I knew going into the project is that we weren’t going to have free rein access to them at every minute, every second of their time in Los Angeles,” he said.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Born in 1827, Stanley was the eldest of 10 children given free rein to develop their own thoughts and beliefs.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

In portraying Jesus, Mary and Joseph with patchwork cloth lacking facial features, artist Victoria-Maria Geyer said she hoped to craft an inclusive version of the Christmas tradition which left "free rein for everyone's imagination".

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

This was so unknown, in my experience, that I wondered if he was too soft, if he gave them too much free rein.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover