decompress

American  

[dee-kuhm-pres] / ˌdi kəmˈprɛs /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to undergo decompression.

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verb (used without object)

1. to undergo decompression.

2. Informal. to relax; unwind.

decompress British  

/ ˌdiːkəmˈprɛs /

verb

1. to relieve (a substance) of pressure or (of a substance) to be relieved of pressure

2. to return (a diver, caisson worker, etc) to a condition of normal atmospheric pressure gradually from a condition of increased pressure or (of a diver, etc) to be returned to such a condition

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Usage

What does decompress mean? Decompress means to release or reduce pressure. This literal meaning of decompress can be used in several contexts. Divers who’ve spent time in deep water decompress by coming up slowly. Divers and other underwater workers sometimes decompress by using a decompression chamber. The goal of these processes is to return the body to normal atmospheric pressure in order to avoid decompression sickness. In a medical context, to decompress is to release pressure in the body, such as from inside the skull through surgery. Decompress can also be used in a figurative way meaning to relax or unwind. This sense of the word likens stress to pressure within the body that needs to be released. A close synonym is destress. An even more informal way of saying this is blow off steam. In all senses of the word, the process of decompressing is called decompression. Example: Yoga really helps me to decompress after a stressful day at work.

Other Word Forms

• decompression noun
• decompressive adjective

Etymology

Origin of decompress

1900–05; translation of French décomprimer. See de-, compress

Explanation

To decompress is either to reduce physical pressure on something or to unwind and relax after a long, hard day. You might need to decompress after a four-hour study session with your math tutor. When you compress something, you squeeze or flatten it, the way you'd compress an air mattress before rolling it up. If you decrease or let up that pressure, you decompress the air mattress. It's much more common to use this verb to mean "relax," to loosen a completely different kind of pressure. You may decompress after school by watching TV or taking your dog for a walk.

Example Sentences

He added that he wanted to give them some time to decompress after trial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

For generations, a Saudi oasis town has been a favoured spot for stressed visitors from the nearby capital Riyadh to come and decompress.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

It was a trade-off worthy of discussion, but Podila was adamant: “I want to decompress on the train.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 25, 2026

The tourists are continuing to decompress on their break in Noosa and will return to training on Sunday.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

I also knew that we needed a break: I’d started scouting for a private place where we could go to decompress for a few days in January, immediately after the new president got sworn in.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama