wind up

British  

/ waɪnd /

verb

1. to bring to or reach a conclusion

   he wound up the proceedings

2. (tr) to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)

3. informal (tr; usually passive) to make nervous, tense, etc; excite

   he was all wound up before the big fight

4. (tr) to roll (thread, etc) into a ball

5. an informal word for liquidate

6. informal (intr) to end up (in a specified state)

   you'll wind up without any teeth

7. (tr; usually passive) to involve; entangle

   they were wound up in three different scandals

8. (tr) to hoist or haul up

9. slang (tr) to tease (someone)

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noun

1. the act of concluding

2. the finish; end

3. slang an act or instance of teasing

   she just thinks it's a big wind-up

wind up Idioms  

1. Come or bring to a finish, as in The party was winding up, so we decided to leave , or Let's wind up the meeting and get back to work . [Early 1800s] Also see wind down .

2. Put in order, settle, as in She had to wind up her affairs before she could move . [Late 1700s]

3. Arrive somewhere following a course of action, end up, as in We got lost and wound up in another town altogether , or If you're careless with your bank account, you can wind up overdrawn . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Whatever the method, it winds up a big sheet of ice, which makes it far more challenging and faster.

From Los Angeles Times

If you wind up shopping for a permanent life-insurance policy, an agent may discuss two types: whole life and universal life.

From MarketWatch

How did a recherché, quasi-French dish leave the skillful hands of Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved cooks and wind up being popular grub for millions of today’s cooks and consumers, white and—emphatically—black?

From The Wall Street Journal

This much we know: If Bennett or Morse wind up on the Olympic medal stand, Mussi won’t be there to see it.

From Los Angeles Times

Those who like what they see often wind up at On Call Café, a popular date spot that offers students a free beverage if they show up with their first match of the quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• close
• complete
• conclude
• do
• end up
• finish up
• settle
• wrap up