windup

or wind-up

[ wahynd-uhp ]

/ ˈwaɪndˌʌp /

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See synonyms for windup on Thesaurus.com

noun

the conclusion of any action, activity, etc.; the end or close.

a final act or part.

Baseball. the preparatory movements of the arm before pitching a ball.Compare stretch (def. 22).

Informal. a mechanical object, as a toy or wristwatch, that is driven by a spring or similar mechanism that must be wound.

an act or instance of winding up.

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Origin of windup

First recorded in 1565–75; noun use of verb phrase wind up

Words nearby windup

wind-swept, wind tee, windtight, wind tunnel, wind turbine, windup, wind vane, windward, Windward Islands, Windward Passage, windway

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use windup in a sentence

He even had his own windup soldier dance moves, subtle complements to the stepping, swag surfing and spiraling performed by his dance troupe.
Kendrick Lamar rewrites the rules of the rap show|Chris Kelly|August 5, 2022|Washington Post
In addition to good snapping and protection provided by his teammates, it helps that he doesn’t have a long windup to generate his power.
The Nation’s Best Punter Is Changing The Game|Alex Kirshner|December 2, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Hanrahan, the pitching coach for the Pirates’ Class AAA affiliate, recently told Crowe that his windup was too quick when throwing his slider.
‘A bit older and smarter,’ former Nats prospect Wil Crowe gets fresh start with Pirates|Jesse Dougherty|June 17, 2021|Washington Post
After a couple of pitches with an exaggerated windup, he announces, “I think I’ll perplex him with my slow ball,” and delivers his famous Bugs Bunny change-up, which floats peacefully past three batters, each of whom strikes out swinging.
‘Baseball Bugs’ at 75: How a Looney Tunes classic left its mark on America’s pastime|Frederic J. Frommer|February 25, 2021|Washington Post

Jon Lester eased into his windup from a few feet in front of the rubber.
Nationals find bits of normalcy as spring training begins in West Palm Beach|Jesse Dougherty|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
After all that windup, it was finally time for Mitt Romney to make the most difficult and important sales pitch of his life.
Paul Begala on Mitt Romney’s Epic Fail in His GOP Convention Speech|Paul Begala|August 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But his long windup also has given time for his team to build an operation, prepare for a long season, and raise money.
5 Ways Tim Pawlenty Could Win in 2012|David A. Graham|May 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“I find that a bit of noise always helps after we get the windup with the bayonet, sir,” he explained to Dalroy.
The Day of Wrath|Louis Tracy
It would have been something of a windup to send the boy to the penitentiary.
Dominie Dean|Ellis Parker Butler
He stopped his windup and threw to Menken, who was covering the rubber and yelling to him to throw.
Baseball Joe, Home Run King|Lester Chadwick
Our morning meal was like a capital English breakfast, with coffee by way of a windup.
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth|Jules Verne
He was disguised as a prima ballerina for the purpose, and as a windup he danced, with great skill and abandon, a can-can.
A Little Garrison|Fritz von der Kyrburg

British Dictionary definitions for windup

wind up

/ (waɪnd) /

verb (adverb)

to bring to or reach a conclusionhe wound up the proceedings

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

(tr; usually passive) informal to make nervous, tense, etc; excitehe was all wound up before the big fight

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

an informal word for liquidate (def. 2)

(intr) informal to end up (in a specified state)you'll wind up without any teeth

(tr; usually passive) to involve; entanglethey were wound up in three different scandals

(tr) to hoist or haul up

(tr) British slang to tease (someone)

noun wind-up

the act of concluding

the finish; end

British slang an act or instance of teasingshe just thinks it's a big wind-up

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with windup

wind up

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.

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

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]