relax
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax.
to relax the muscles.
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to diminish the force of.
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to slacken or abate, as effort, attention, etc.
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to make less strict or severe, as rules, discipline, etc..
to relax the requirements for a license.
- Synonyms:
- ease
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to release or bring relief from the effects of tension, anxiety, etc..
A short swim always relaxes me.
verb (used without object)
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to become less tense, rigid, or firm.
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to become less strict or severe; grow milder.
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to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., especially for the sake of rest or recreation.
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to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.
verb
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to make (muscles, a grip, etc) less tense or rigid or (of muscles, a grip, etc) to become looser or less rigid
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(intr) to take rest or recreation, as from work or effort
on Sundays, she just relaxes
she relaxes by playing golf
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to lessen the force of (effort, concentration, etc) or (of effort) to become diminished
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to make (rules or discipline) less rigid or strict or (of rules, etc) to diminish in severity
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(intr) (of a person) to become less formal; unbend
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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relaxernoun
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overrelaxverb
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relaxableadjective
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relaxativeadjective
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relaxatoryadjective
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relaxedadjective
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unrelaxingadjective
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relaxedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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relaxsimple
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relaxessimple
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have relaxedperfect
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has relaxedperfect
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am relaxingprogressive
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are relaxingprogressive
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is relaxingprogressive
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have been relaxingperfect progressive
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has been relaxingperfect progressive
Past
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relaxedsimple
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had relaxedperfect
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was relaxingprogressive
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were relaxingprogressive
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had been relaxingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of relax
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relaxen, from Latin relaxāre “to stretch out again, loosen,” equivalent to re- re- ( def. ) + laxāre “to loosen,” derivative of laxus “loose, spacious, wide,” see lax 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Relax is a verb that describes feeling less stressed out or tense. If you want to relax after a crazy day at school, you might watch TV, take a nap, or do yoga to help you unwind. Relax can also refer to behavior that grows less formal or restrained, like a beach wedding where the bride and groom relax the usually formal ceremony by wearing casual clothing. Relax can also mean to become less tight. When you relax your grip on a pen, your hold loosens up. Relax can also refer to something that becomes less severe or strict. If your teacher would relax the attendance rules, you wouldn't keep getting in trouble for skipping class!
Vocabulary lists containing relax
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Chapter 31: A Troubled Nation
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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.
See Examples For:
“We wanted to provide a place for adults to relax and reset and get ready for the next day or week,” co-owner Christie Kim says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Student Freya Price will be on a night out with her friends, but she cannot truly relax.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
But at the end of the day, she said, people need to relax and remember that what’s at stake is just a tournament trophy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
When a threat is limited or occurs in a predictable way, wildlife may be more willing to relax and resume normal activities.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
She needed him to relax so that he’d open up and tell her what was going on.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Best part: The clippers work for cheap, and none of the promotional aspects need to be publicly disclosed, thanks to a federal-regulation loophole that relaxes transparency standards on ads that don’t sell tangible products.
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
As it bakes, it softens and relaxes, turning creamy at the edges while still holding its shape at the core.
From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2026
This disturbance relaxes the usual Raman selection rules and produces distinctive low-frequency Raman scattering.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2026
So he creates drama, he attacks, arouses counter-forces, feels fear—will my luck hold?—defeats the enemy, claims triumph and relaxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
After a second, though, he relaxes a little.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
I was in a Kylian Mbappe news conference early in the World Cup and I remember thinking that I'd never seen him looking more relaxed, more confident and more determined to make this his tournament.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The previous Speaker, John Bercow, relaxed the rules, telling MPs they didn't need to wear a tie, but his successor Sir Lindsay Hoyle is having none of it.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Chinese regulators recently relaxed rules to allow AI startups to list on a Nasdaq-like market in Shanghai even if they are not profitable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Starmer was also relaxed, joking with his political foes.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Bat relaxed in the backseat as Janie told Dad about her day.
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
Venice is that bright, sweet spot in the middle, where you have the more relaxing presence of the water and the beach, but still connected to Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
The redesigned robotaxi’s interior has a lighter color palette, aimed at creating a calmer and more relaxing environment, and added padding and ergonomic curves in the seats and headrests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
"Any such decision should only be taken where there are no alternative options and should be communicated clearly and in good time," he says, adding employers should be flexible and consider relaxing rules where possible.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Have a relaxing night and a great long weekend.
From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026
Sierra preferred crazy metal and alternative for relaxing or doing homework, but this would definitely do for the dance floor.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
