unwind

verb

un·​wind ˌən-ˈwīnd 

unwound ˌən-ˈwau̇nd  ; unwinding; unwinds

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 labyrinth 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 of unwind

• relax

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

Structure is the easiest part of philanthropy to get right, and the hardest part to unwind once it’s been built around the wrong purpose. — Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Several Wall Street trading desks warned this week that the Hynix offering could be a catalyst for further unwinding and profit-taking in the memory sector. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 July 2026

Picking up a novel is increasingly seen as a way to unwind, to escape, to be entertained. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 July 2026

On weekdays, Library Blu, the hotel’s bar, is packed with guests unwinding post-work, but weekends also bring in locals checking-in for a staycation. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for unwind

• aligned
• alined
• assigned
• behind
• combined
• confined
• consigned
• crosswind
• declined
• defined
• designed
• divined

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