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
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.
“Outside, the expansive property offers room to unwind and enjoy existing patios, pool, and grounds for recreation, gardening, and family fun,” the listing adds.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
Discovery and unwind the earlier merger that joined the storied Melrose Avenue studio with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, alleging that both deals reduce marketplace competition.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
They’ll be back in 2028 and probably again in 2030 to unwind it for real.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
Musk wants the court to remove Altman and Brockman from their leadership roles at OpenAI and unwind the AI lab’s recent conversion to a for-profit entity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
I unwind my still-damp scarf and hang it on a hook near the door.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
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.
