wind-down

American

[wahynd-doun] / ˈwaɪndˌdaʊn /

noun

an act or instance of winding down, as in intensity.

a gradual wind-down in hostilities.

wind down British

/ waɪnd /

verb

(tr) to lower or move down by cranking
(intr) (of a clock spring) to become slack
(intr) to diminish gradually in force or power; relax

"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

wind down Idioms

Diminish gradually, draw to a close, as in By midnight the party had wound down. [Mid-1900s] Also see wind up.

Etymology

Origin of wind-down

First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of the verb phrase wind down

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 measure mainly allows Russian barrels already in transit to complete voyages and discharge," she said in a note, calling it a "wind-down, not reopening."

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

A gradual wind-down, an employee stock-ownership plan, a partial sale or a spin-off may save some jobs, but perhaps not all of them — and that’s OK.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

The committee said in court papers that First Brands has disclosed that it is moving toward a partial wind-down process, with bids for its assets due in less than a month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

It said while the government has committed to "formal negotiations", it will begin consultations with 150 staff at its Vivergo bioethanol business in Hull "to effect an orderly wind-down".

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

Reggie takes a deep breath, a wind-down breath.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023