unwind
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to undo or loosen from or as if from a coiled condition.
to unwind a rolled bandage; to unwind a coiled rope.
-
to reduce the tension of; relax.
to unwind a person with a drink.
-
to disentangle or disengage; untwist.
to unwind one's legs from around the stool.
verb (used without object)
-
to become unwound.
-
to become relieved of tension; relax.
After work we can have a drink and unwind.
verb
-
to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel
-
(tr) to disentangle
-
to make or become relaxed
he finds it hard to unwind after a busy day at work
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
unwindsimple
-
unwindssimple
-
have unwoundperfect
-
has unwoundperfect
-
are unwindingprogressive
-
am unwindingprogressive
-
is unwindingprogressive
-
have been unwindingperfect progressive
-
has been unwindingperfect progressive
Past
-
unwoundsimple
-
had unwoundperfect
-
was unwindingprogressive
-
were unwindingprogressive
-
had been unwindingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of unwind
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English onwinden; see un- 2, wind 2
Explanation
The literal meaning of the verb unwind is exactly what it sounds like — the opposite of "wind," or twist. But when someone says they need to unwind, they mean that they need to relax. When you come inside on a cold, snowy day, you might first unwind the scarf from around your neck, loosening and untwisting it. If you then grab a cup of hot chocolate and put your feet up on the coffee table, you’ll feel yourself start to unwind, or become less tense. Unwind has been in use since the fourteenth century, but the figurative meaning of “to relax” dates only from the mid-twentieth century.
Vocabulary lists containing unwind
Slam!
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!
Bob
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Obama's health care law -- NYTimes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 expansion has brought faster-paced lifestyles, grinding traffic jams, regular flooding, severe air pollution and a dire shortage of public green spaces to unwind.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
Outside, a backyard with a fire pit, grill and lawn games made it easy to unwind after a day of exploring.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
These forces aren’t just wartime noise, according to analysts, but structural shifts that a cease-fire can’t simply unwind.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
The analysts note that existing offshore accounts held by mainland traders continue to generate commission and interest income, and the new rules don’t specify whether investors must fully unwind positions in the next two years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
And she proceeded to unwind her muffler from her neck and to take off her hat, which she hung on one of the bedposts.
From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers
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.
