unwind

[ uhn-wahynd ]
See synonyms for: unwindunwindingunwound on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),un·wound [uhn-wound], /ʌnˈwaʊnd/, un·wind·ing.
  1. to undo or loosen from or as if from a coiled condition: to unwind a rolled bandage; to unwind a coiled rope.

  2. to reduce the tension of; relax: to unwind a person with a drink.

  1. to disentangle or disengage; untwist: to unwind one's legs from around the stool.

verb (used without object),un·wound [uhn-wound], /ʌnˈwaʊnd/, un·wind·ing.
  1. to become unwound.

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

Origin of unwind

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English onwinden; see un-2, wind2

Other words from unwind

  • un·wind·a·ble, adjective
  • un·wind·er, noun

Words Nearby unwind

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use unwind in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unwind

unwind

/ (ʌnˈwaɪnd) /


verb-winds, -winding or -wound
  1. to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel

  2. (tr) to disentangle

  1. to make or become relaxed: he finds it hard to unwind after a busy day at work

Derived forms of unwind

  • unwindable, adjective
  • unwinder, 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