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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Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
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
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
PDE3/4 inhibitors block specific enzymes to relax airway muscles and suppress inflammation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Yes, people came to Pittsburgh not to relax but to work.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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
As Washington relaxes the rules to ease the global supply crunch, Russia's crude oil sales to India have jumped by 50%.
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026
This disturbance relaxes the usual Raman selection rules and produces distinctive low-frequency Raman scattering.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2026
He loosens his tie and relaxes back into his chair.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Beijing has relaxed rules to allow unprofitable artificial-intelligence startups to list on a Nasdaq-like market in Shanghai.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The rule is being slightly relaxed this season with all Women's Super League clubs allowed to offer alcohol to supporters in the stands following a successful two-year trial.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
He has since reinvented himself as a man of the people, melding a relaxed, folksy style with slick social media videos.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors has written a relaxed and friendly book anyone can read in a few sittings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
There it pooled, relaxed, cleansed itself, and bubbled into laughter at the sheer joy of having us in its midst.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
Imagine that you’re relaxing at a casual family gathering.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
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
By relaxing restrictions on arms exports, Japan hopes to revitalize its small defense industry and play a bigger role in regional security by equipping countries such as Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Have a relaxing night and a great long weekend.
From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026
John Mark’s fingers are finally relaxing on the steering wheel.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
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.
