unwind

verb

un·​wind ˌən-ˈwīnd 

unwound ˌən-ˈwau̇nd  ; unwinding

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to uncoil : wind off : unroll

b

: to free from or as if from a binding or wrapping

c

: to release from tension : relax

2

archaic : to trace to the end

unwinding the labryinth and bringing the hero out

—Laurence Sterne

3

: to undo (a financial arrangement or position) through the necessary legal or financial steps

unwound most of its natural gas hedges

—The New York Times

intransitive verb

1

: to become uncoiled or disentangled : unfold

2

: to become released from tension

take a bath to unwind

Synonyms

• chill
• chill out [slang]
• de-stress
• decompress
• loosen up
• mellow (out)
• relax
• wind down

Examples of unwind in a Sentence

She unwound some thread from the spool.

The fishing line unwound quickly.

I wanted to unwind after a hard day.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pressure of playing in the NHL is as intense as ever, and the need for players to unwind remains. —Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

With scalloped mint green umbrellas, a bubbling fountain, and a standalone sauna, the outdoor relaxation area offers a sunny spot to unwind before or after your treatment, and just inside the glass French doors, the indoor relaxation lounge offers light bites and plush chairs to cozy into. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025

Carl Sagan Named after the famous astronomer, this strain provides balanced effects and relaxation, perfect for unwinding after a long day of cosmic exploration. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2025

The Times shed more light on Mark Zuckerberg’s move to unwind D.E.I. at Meta. —Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

unwind

verb

un·​wind ˌən-ˈwīnd 

ˈən-

unwound -ˈwau̇nd  ; unwinding

1

a

: to cause to uncoil : wind off

b

: to become uncoiled or untangled

2

: to make or become free of tension : relax

wanted to unwind after a hard day