relax
Americanverb (used with object)
-
relaxes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
relaxed,
past participle, past
-
relaxing
present participle
-
to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax.
to relax the muscles.
-
to diminish the force of.
-
to slacken or abate, as effort, attention, etc.
-
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)
-
relaxes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
relaxed,
past participle, past
-
relaxing
present participle
-
to become less tense, rigid, or firm.
-
to become less strict or severe; grow milder.
-
to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., especially for the sake of rest or recreation.
-
to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.
verb
-
to make (muscles, a grip, etc) less tense or rigid or (of muscles, a grip, etc) to become looser or less rigid
-
(intr) to take rest or recreation, as from work or effort
on Sundays, she just relaxes
she relaxes by playing golf
-
to lessen the force of (effort, concentration, etc) or (of effort) to become diminished
-
to make (rules or discipline) less rigid or strict or (of rules, etc) to diminish in severity
-
(intr) (of a person) to become less formal; unbend
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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relaxernoun
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overrelaxverb
-
relaxableadjective
-
relaxativeadjective
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relaxatoryadjective
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relaxedadjective
-
unrelaxingadjective
-
relaxedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
relaxsimple
-
relaxessimple
-
have relaxedperfect
-
has relaxedperfect
-
am relaxingprogressive
-
are relaxingprogressive
-
is relaxingprogressive
-
have been relaxingperfect progressive
-
has been relaxingperfect progressive
Past
-
relaxedsimple
-
had relaxedperfect
-
was relaxingprogressive
-
were relaxingprogressive
-
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:
Yet another will relax rules around the routine flaring of "associated gas."
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
"They've been relying quite visibly on scripts and gags, and I would like to see them relax into themselves," she adds.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Then I do my warmups, relax, keep my mind clear of any nonsense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Roosevelt used the property to relax, but he also saw it as a perfect place for high-level diplomacy.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
Our trombone sounds are in sync, and after we make it all the way through “A Song of Peace,” I relax into the silence that follows the last note.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
In the proposed experiments, researchers would rotate the defect's magnetic spin in different directions and measure how quickly it relaxes.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
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
Spend the day at Cacupé Beach, grab a meal at Cumbuca and then enjoy the wide sandy beach where everyone plays soccer, swims and relaxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
A test of Skydance’s commitment to broadcast may come if the FCC relaxes TV station ownership rules, which would likely lead to consolidation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2025
Zach knows he’s won though, so he relaxes, smiling.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
Some candidates, like Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Washington's 3rd Congressional District, are embracing a relaxed, outdoorsy image.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
As such, his model is a little more relaxed than Shibuya’s.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
Mera questions markets’ relaxed stance toward the Black Sea disruptions, and frets that growers who are currently losing money may shrink their acreage in future.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Percy “PC3” Crews has been playing drums since he was 3, and his vicious skills on the drum kit contrast with a cheery, relaxed demeanor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Dad was relaxed before, but now his posture is stiff and on high alert.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
After a tour around the country, what could be more relaxing than my colleagues’ suggestions about how to unwind this evening?
From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026
With an entire wing dedicated to the primary suite, which features a fireplace, patio with direct access to the pool, and a lavish bathroom, the abode is certainly a relaxing retreat.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
"I think it's fair to say there were some bumps in the road in the first couple of episodes," she says, "but they do appear to be very slowly relaxing into their new roles."
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
“We all have the experience of finishing the day, relaxing on the sofa, watching videos and clicking ‘buy’ without thinking too much about it,” said Vivien Huang, Reckitt’s director of marketing in China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Then, just like they always do, Ma and Pa came and sat in their rockers on the stoop, getting ready to do some relaxing.
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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