The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word UNCLIPPED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
U
N
C
L
I
P
P
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "released" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case released = unclipped.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does UNCLIPPED mean?
UNCLIPPED adjective- Not clipped.
- Uncircumcised
- To release something by removing a clip.