unwind

[uhn-wahynd]

See more synonyms for unwind on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), un·wound, un·wind·ing.

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), un·wound, un·wind·ing.

to become unwound.
to become relieved of tension; relax: After work we can have a drink and unwind.

Origin of unwind

1275–1325; Middle English onwinden; see un-², wind²

Related formsun·wind·a·ble, adjectiveun·wind·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for unwind

loosen, unravel, unfurl, loose, slacken, separate, disentangle, free, unroll, unwrap, ravel, unbend, untwine, untwist, unreel, uncoil, recline, quieten, rest

Examples from the Web for unwind

Contemporary Examples of unwind

To unwind, Sharp takes long showers, and stops himself from separating his food on his plate as Christopher would.
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway
Tim Teeman
December 7, 2014
The Hakushu 12 was a little peaty and nutty, the kind of dram I want to unwind with after a fine restaurant meal.
Watch Out, Scotland! Japanese Whisky Is on the Rise
Kayleigh Kulp
November 16, 2014
When I want to unwind, I just go to bed with a detective story.
Donald E. Westlake, The Man With The Getaway Face
Malcolm Jones
October 25, 2014
It took me about two years to unwind the tension, so in that time, I almost had to relearn how to sing.
La Roux Discusses New Album ‘Trouble in Paradise,’ the 5-Year Gap, and Embracing Her Androgyny
Marlow Stern
July 6, 2014
Things got a little real during that scene to the point where, afterward, we were like, “Do you want to get a beer and unwind?”
Dave Franco Uncut: The Actor on ’22 Jump Street,’ ‘The Room,’ and His Bro’s Nude Instagrams
Marlow Stern
June 13, 2014

Historical Examples of unwind

He began to unwind his long scarf while she placed a seat for him.
Romola
George Eliot
Then Mukna's head began to droop and droop; and his trunk began to unwind.
The Wonders of the Jungle, Book Two
Prince Sarath Ghosh
We want to have you take us to the North Pole and unwind about six years.
The Panchronicon
Harold Steele Mackaye
"Perhaps this will do," he thought, and hurriedly proceeded to unwind it.
The Duke's Motto
Justin Huntly McCarthy
Her argument, however, does not concern this history, which has too many other threads to unwind.
The Portrait of a Lady
Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for unwind

unwind

verb -winds, -winding or -wound

to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel
(tr) to disentangle
to make or become relaxedhe finds it hard to unwind after a busy day at work

Derived Formsunwindable, adjectiveunwinder, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unwind

early 14c., "to undo" (a bandage, wrapping, etc.), from un- (2) + wind (v.). Cf. Old English unwindan, Dutch ontwinden, Old High German intwindan. Refl. sense is recorded from 1740; figurative sense of "to release oneself from tensions, to relax" is recorded from 1938. Related: Unwound; unwinding.