windup

1 of 3

noun

wind·​up ˈwīnd-ˌəp 

1

a

: the act of bringing to an end

b

: a concluding act or part : finish

2

a

: a series of regular and distinctive motions (such as swinging the arms) made by a pitcher preparatory to releasing a pitch

b

: an exaggerated backswing (as in tennis)

windup

2 of 3

adjective

: operated by a spring mechanism wound by hand

wind up

3 of 3

verb

wound up also winded up; winding up; winds up

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a conclusion : end

2

a

: to put in order for the purpose of bringing to an end

winds up the meeting

b

British : to effectuate the winding up of

intransitive verb

1

a

: to come to a conclusion

b

: to arrive in a place, situation, or condition at the end or as a result of a course of action

wound up as millionaires

2

: to make a pitching windup

Synonyms

Noun

• capper
• close
• closing
• conclusion
• consummation
• end
• endgame
• ending
• finale
• finis
• finish
• grand finale
• homestretch
• mop-up
• wrap-up

Verb

• close
• close out
• complete
• conclude
• end
• finish
• round (off or out)
• terminate
• wrap up

Examples of windup in a Sentence

Noun

the windup of the negotiations

He went into the windup, then threw the pitch.

a pitcher with an unusual windup

Her brother's act was just a wind-up to get her angry.

Adjective

She has an old windup record player in her attic.

Verb

try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time

her speeches usually wind up with one last joke

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fernando Valenzuela’s famous windup involved rotating his slender legs and broad, burly chest, eyes gazing to the heavens. —Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

This movie is part high school reunion, beloved characters finally reunited, part formulaic windup. —Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Instead, what’s most substantial about the movie is reduced to an elaborate windup toy, a mechanism of mere spectacle. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024

Advertisement The right-hander, who was pitching independent-league ball in 2022, struck out Shohei Ohtani twice, punctuating his 60-pitch outing with a full windup and violent fist pump after whiffing the Dodgers slugger and National League home run leader with an 82-mph sweeper to end the fifth. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024

Verb

Mendoza, coming off a 385-yard passing performance in the Bears’ 46-36 win over Wake Forest, wound up 22 for 34 for 225 yards. —Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

This time around, that impulsivity might wind up thwarting, rather than empowering, the more extreme factions on his team. —Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1784, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

windup

1 of 3 noun

wind·​up ˈwīn-ˌdəp 

1

a

: the act of bringing to an end

b

: a last act or part : finish

2

: a series of motions (as swinging the arms over the head) made by a pitcher prior to releasing a pitch

windup

2 of 3 adjective

: having a spring wound by hand

windup toys

wind up

3 of 3 verb

(ˈ)wīn-ˈdəp

1

: to bring or come to a conclusion : end

let's wind up the meeting quickly

2

: to arrive in a place, situation, or state

wound up losing the game

wound up as millionaires

3

: to make a windup in pitching a baseball

Legal Definition

wind up

transitive verb

wound up; winding up

: to bring to an end by taking care of unfinished business

ordered to wind up his practice

specifically : to conclude by removing liabilities and distributing any remaining assets to partners or shareholders

wind up the business and affairs of a corporation in dissolution

wind up a receivership