unwind

American  

[uhn-wahynd] / ʌnˈwaɪnd /

verb (used with object)

unwound, unwinding

1. to undo or loosen from or as if from a coiled condition.

   to unwind a rolled bandage; to unwind a coiled rope.

2. to reduce the tension of; relax.

   to unwind a person with a drink.

3. to disentangle or disengage; untwist.

   to unwind one's legs from around the stool.

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verb (used without object)

unwound, unwinding

1. to become unwound.

2. to become relieved of tension; relax.

   After work we can have a drink and unwind.

unwind British  

/ ʌnˈwaɪnd /

verb

1. to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel

2. (tr) to disentangle

3. to make or become relaxed

   he finds it hard to unwind after a busy day at work

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Other Word Forms

• unwindable adjective
• unwinder noun

Etymology

Origin of unwind

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English onwinden; un- ², wind ²

Example Sentences

Look for some tax-loss harvesting into the end of the year as some of these trades unwind.

From Barron's

That triggered a sharp unwinding of the so-called carry trade in which investors borrow cheaply in yen and put the money to work in markets around the world with higher returns.

From Barron's

That triggered a sharp unwinding of the so-called carry trade in which investors borrow cheaply in yen and put the money to work in markets around the world with higher returns.

From Barron's

"Of course, it's still the case that it doesn't mean they'll all be winners. We're watching it very closely, because we do need to watch, obviously, what the consequences of any sharp unwinding could be."

From BBC

The food giant says it plans to split its business into two companies, unwinding an industry megamerger made more than a decade ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• loosen
• unfurl
• unravel