wind down

verb

wound down also winded down; winding down; winds down

intransitive verb

1

: to draw gradually toward an end

the party was winding down

2

: relax, unwind

wind down with a good book

transitive verb

: to cause a gradual lessening of usually with the intention of bringing to an end

Synonyms

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

Examples of wind down in a Sentence

not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night

Recent Examples on the Web

Rain chances continue through Thursday, with showers beginning to wind down by the evening, the weather service said. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025

After two more storytellers, the evening starts to wind down and people are pulling on coats and gathering their ladles and crock pots. —Caitlin Shetterly, NPR, 7 May 2025

The Third Stage For some, in the late-career stage, typically after 25-30 years of work, the focus shifts to reinvention and winding down. —Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Step 5: Start Winding Down Plan to start winding down a few hours before bedtime. —Sanja Jelic, Verywell Health, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for wind down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown