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cooldown

American  
[kool-doun] / ˈkulˌdaʊn /
Or cool-down

noun

  1. a period of low-impact or slower exercise following a more intense workout to allow the body to gradually return to its normal physiological level.


verb phrase

  1. to bring the body back to its normal physiological level after fast, vigorous exercise or activity by gradually slowing the pace of activity or by doing gentle exercises or stretches.

Etymology

Origin of cooldown

First recorded in 1910–15; cool ( def. ) (in the verb sense “to make or become cool” + down 1 ( def. ) (in the adverb sense “from a higher to a lower state”); the noun is derived from the verb phrase

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.

The forecast shows a slight cooldown Saturday, but temperatures will still be about 15 to 20 degrees above normal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

The 10-year Treasury yield rose and the two-year declined amid indications of a labor cooldown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Stock futures were mostly higher Friday as a cooldown in geopolitical tensions stoked a market rebound.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

There are a few reasons for that cooldown, chief among them that the Cybertruck ended up being much more expensive than originally planned.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 29, 2025

I follow the lead and practically fall over, like a machine set to crazy spin mode that’s all of a sudden been switched off with no cooldown.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle