unwind
Americanverb (used with object)
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to undo or loosen from or as if from a coiled condition.
to unwind a rolled bandage; to unwind a coiled rope.
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to reduce the tension of; relax.
to unwind a person with a drink.
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to disentangle or disengage; untwist.
to unwind one's legs from around the stool.
verb (used without object)
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to become unwound.
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to become relieved of tension; relax.
After work we can have a drink and unwind.
verb
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to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel
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(tr) to disentangle
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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
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unwindsimple
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unwindssimple
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have unwoundperfect
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has unwoundperfect
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am unwindingprogressive
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are unwindingprogressive
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is unwindingprogressive
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have been unwindingperfect progressive
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has been unwindingperfect progressive
Past
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unwoundsimple
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had unwoundperfect
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was unwindingprogressive
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were unwindingprogressive
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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!
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Bob
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Obama's health care law -- NYTimes
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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:
The California African American Museum in Exposition Park will offer a wellness combo on Sunday, Aug. 9: that is, a 60-minute yoga session followed by a 60-minute sound bath to unwind after flowing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Whether or not this marks a turning point for the AI trade after it was swept up in a painful momentum unwind remains to be seen.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
The 33-year-old accountant has been training for three months to keep fit and unwind after work.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
OPEC’s closely watched monthly report comes after key OPEC+ producers agreed to raise output again in August, as the cartel continues to unwind production cuts introduced in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
He rose from his chair and began to unwind the chain from the box.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
While some F1 stars like Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc choose to race online in their spare time, Häkkinen unwinds by riding horses.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
But she warned that growth could weaken "as the temporary boost from stockpiling unwinds and the squeeze on households' real incomes from higher energy prices intensifies".
From Barron's ● May 14, 2026
Still, the historical data says big unwinds are actually opportunities to reload rather than a signal to get out.
From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026
“We are seeing some massive unwinds under the hood as popular longs get sold hard while laggards, heavily shorted names, and meme stocks rip,” Mizuho’s O’Regan said in commentary shared with MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 15, 2026
Ray unwinds the hose from the side of the house and aims the nozzle at the door, and I turn the water on.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
The Department of Justice argued that immigrant kids could still sue over poor conditions if the Flores settlement is unwound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The spring unwound in an uncontrolled manner, causing the wrench to be ejected and strike him.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Some observers, such as Nomura’s cross-asset strategist Charlie McElligott, think confirmation of a deal may trigger a sell-the-news pullback for stocks as already over-exuberant positions are unwound.
From MarketWatch ● May 29, 2026
He also wants OpenAI’s conversion to be unwound as part of the remedies in the case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
The tension in the muscles of his neck and shoulders unwound with each breath he took.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
A September increase would complete the unwinding of the second of the three production-cut packages introduced by OPEC+.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Friday’s news out of China effectively forced a rapid unwinding of crowded tech positions beyond just chip stocks, said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist for Nationwide.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
But the latest unwinding follows an earlier step toward separation.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
When the act was passed, the Vietnam War was unwinding, and Richard Nixon’s presidency was collapsing in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
The sigil grows bolder and brighter, and the webbed masses from the ceiling begin unwinding toward the floor.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
