winding

1 of 2

noun

wind·​ing ˈwīn-diŋ 

1

: material (such as wire) wound or coiled about an object (such as an armature)

also : a single turn of the wound material

2

a

: the act of one that winds

b

: the manner of winding something

3

: a curved or sinuous course, line, or progress

winding

2 of 2

adjective

: marked by winding: such as

a

: having a curved or spiral course or form

a winding stairway

b

: having a course that winds

a winding road

Synonyms

Adjective

• bending
• crazy
• crooked
• curled
• curling
• curved
• curving
• curvy
• devious
• serpentine
• sinuous
• tortuous
• twisted
• twisting
• windy

Examples of winding in a Sentence

Adjective

a long and winding path through the woods

a winding staircase leads to the top of the lighthouse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The theft happened at a time, with the pandemic winding down, when restaurants, as a social idea, felt precious, and possibly endangered. —Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025

The city’s terra-cotta rooftops and winding alleyways feel lifted from the pages of the play. —Becca Blond, AFAR Media, 10 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Coming out can be a long and winding path for many of us that isn’t easy or straightforward. —Quispe López, Them, 18 Mar. 2025

Blankenhorn's professional career has amounted to a long and winding road ever since he was drafted in the third round out of high school by the Minnesota Twins in 2015. —Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing winding

• field winding
• self-winding
• stem-winding
• winding-sheet
• winding-up

Rhymes for winding

• binding
• blinding
• finding
• grinding
• minding
• bookbinding
• factfinding
• nonbinding
• rebinding
• regrinding
• reminding
• rewinding

Kids Definition

winding

1 of 2 noun

wind·​ing ˈwīn-diŋ 

1

: material (as wire) wound or coiled about an object

2

: a single turn of wound material

winding

2 of 2 adjective

: marked by winding: as

a

: having a noticeable curved or spiral form

a winding staircase

b

: having a course that winds

a winding road