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
- overrelax verb
- relaxable adjective
- relaxative adjective
- relaxatory adjective
- relaxed adjective
- relaxedly adverb
- relaxer noun
- unrelaxing adjective
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,” lax 1 ( def. )
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.
"I was quite annoyed after the first run. I tried to be a bit too relaxed because I tried to over-compensate for race-day nerves," Weston said.
From BBC
Was there anywhere on Earth he could go, relax and just be Snoop?
That mythical number has often been cited as the threshold at which managers, players and fans can relax - but the total has not actually been needed to stay up since 2010-11.
From BBC
"I hope there will be a change. I hope things will relax," he said.
From Barron's
"Holidays are for relaxing, not taxing," the groups wrote in a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
From BBC
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.
