unwind

verb

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un·wind | \ ˌən-ˈwīnd

\

unwound\ ˌən-ˈwau̇nd

\; unwinding

Definition of unwind

transitive verb

1a : 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 labryinth 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

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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 When allowed to unwind, the fibers cooled by the same amount. — George Musser, Science | AAAS, "A fridge made from a rubber band? Twisted elastic fibers could cool your food," 10 Oct. 2019 If the roots are crowded, take the time to unwind and loosen them. — oregonlive.com, "Thinking of planting strawberries in straw bales? Ask an Expert," 27 July 2019 Lost in the president’s Twitter missives is that Baltimore, in more recent history, has been at the forefront of attempts to unwind deeply rooted patterns of housing segregation that have led to poverty, disinvestment and despair. — Danielle Ohl, ProPublica, "Trump Called Baltimore “Vermin Infested” While the Federal Government Fails to Clean Up Rodents in Subsidized Housing," 14 Aug. 2019 Photo: Getty Iran said its move wouldn’t violate the nuclear deal, which allows for one party to unwind some measures of compliance if another—in this case, the U.S.—breaches the deal first. — Gordon Lubold, WSJ, "Iran to Breach Limits of Nuclear Pact, as U.S. to Send More Troops to Mideast," 17 June 2019 This long weekend is not only my chance to completely unwind, but also to stock my closet with summer essentials like shorts, highlighters, bathing suits, and more. — Tiffany Dodson, SELF, "The Best Memorial Day 2019 Beauty and Fashion Sales From Your Favorite Brands," 23 May 2019 But where in the world does a royal couple head to unwind away from the media spotlight? — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton and Prince William Are Reportedly on Their First Vacation as a Family of Five," 20 July 2018 This style has become more of a necessity to unwind and downshift from the hectic flow of life here. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Bay Area home style: Say hello to beachy boho, coastal cool," 2 July 2019 Malabar Farm is the place where Hollywood stars visited to relax and unwind and where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall tied the knot in 1945. — Rich Heileman, cleveland.com, "Berea’s Old Stone House still in limbo: Around The Town," 14 June 2019

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

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Last Updated

13 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Unwind.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwinding. Accessed 22 November 2019.

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More Definitions for unwind

unwind

verb