relax

verb re·lax \ ri-ˈlaks \

Definition of relax

transitive verb

1 :to make less tense or rigid :slacken

relaxed his grip

2 :to make less severe or stringent :modify

relax immigration laws

3 :to deprive of energy, zeal, or strength of purpose

4 :to relieve from nervous tension

5 :to treat (hair) chemically in order to relax curls

intransitive verb

1 :to become lax, weak, or loose :rest

2 :to become less intense or severe

hoped the committee would relax in its opposition

3 of a muscle or muscle fiber :to become inactive and lengthen

4 :to cast off social restraint, nervous tension, or anxiety

couldn't relax in crowds

5 :to seek rest or recreation

relax at the seashore

6 :to relieve constipation

7 :to attain equilibrium following the abrupt removal of some influence (such as light, high temperature, or stress)

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relaxer

noun

See relax defined for English-language learners

See relax defined for kids

Examples of relax in a Sentence

The muscles in my neck and shoulders should relax after a nice hot shower.
A hot shower relaxed the tight muscles in my neck and shoulders.
I can't relax with all this noise!
Just relax, there's nothing to worry about.
Try to relax and enjoy the ride.

Recent Examples of relax from the Web

Luo proposed boosting bandwidth and relaxing restrictions on access to websites frequently visited by scholars.

— dennis normile, Science | AAAS, "Science suffers as China’s internet censors plug holes in Great Firewall," 30 Aug. 2017
Nothing like 600 miles with a toddler and a puppy in the back seat to bring back memories of relaxing, restorative family road trips.

— tim woodward, idahostatesman, "The Tim Woodward family takes another ‘relaxing’ family road trip," 25 Aug. 2017
Mentoring relationships often solidify outside of work hours—when two people sit together, relax, and get to know each other.

— caroline kitchener, The Atlantic, "When It’s Hard for Women to Find Male Mentors," 22 Aug. 2017
If Part 12 was all about telling fans to just relax and savor the small moments, this week reveled in switching between laughs and sorrow.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Twin Peaks Just Delivered Its Trolliest—and Saddest—Installment Yet," 7 Aug. 2017
Here, get used to the relaxing sound of waves lapping the wild shore a few feet away and, on a summer visit, the happy, echoing sound of kids splashing in the lake.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "A Hike and a Happy Hour: Saunter on Lake Whatcom, sip a Melvin beer," 2 Aug. 2017
Controlled, mindful breathing quiets that excess noise and relaxes your body.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "The Key to Better Sex Is All in Your Breathing," 26 July 2017
CORNELIS, the 63-year-old governor of West Kalimantan, a province in Indonesian Borneo, is relaxing in jeans and a stained white vest at a table piled withkrupuk crackers and other local snacks.

— The Economist, "Borneo againIndonesian Islamists open a new front in their war on tolerance," 20 July 2017
The state has taken several steps, including adding more money to its Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply cost-share program and relaxing commercial driving restrictions to help with the transport of livestock, water and hay.

— blake nicholson, The Seattle Times, "Drought in High Plains the worst some farmers have ever seen," 15 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relax.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of relax

Middle English, from Latin relaxare, from re- + laxare to loosen, from laxus loose — more at slack

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

relax Synonyms

Synonyms

chill, chill out [slang], decompress, de-stress, loosen up, mellow (out), unwind, wind down, hang loose

Antonyms

tense (up)

Related Words

unbend; bask, kick back, loll, lounge, repose, rest; bum, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, vegetate, veg out, zone out; alleviate, comfort, ease, relieve; calm, compose, cool, quiet, settle

Near Antonyms

attach, bind, fasten, tie; constrain, restrain

RELAX Defined for English Language Learners

relax

verb

Definition of relax for English Language Learners

: to become or to cause (something) to become less tense, tight, or stiff
: to stop feeling nervous or worried
: to spend time resting or doing something enjoyable especially after you have been doing work