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.

Nearly 90 percent of green spaces in Washington are under federal control, meaning the president has almost free rein to change them to his liking.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Many seem to have free rein so far.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 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

Without it, it was argued, tech firms would be given free rein to help themselves to UK content and train their AI products to mimic it - putting human artists out of work.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

“But I thought you said he gave you total free rein over the park.”

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling