unwind

verb

un·​wind ˌən-ˈwīnd 

unwound ˌən-ˈwau̇nd  ; unwinding

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

Evenings are low-key, whether that means gallery hopping near the historical Taos Plaza (don’t miss the Taos Artist Collective), savoring hatch chile–spiked New Mexican dishes at spots like La Cueva Café and Michael’s Kitchen, or unwinding at wine bars such as Corner Office and Barra Vino. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026

Raffles Udaipur Udaipur has plenty of palatial stays, but the Raffles Udaipur captures the opulence of this historic kingdom, while giving guests an opportunity to fully unwind. —Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026

The property is a getaway and a place to unwind for the family, Toney said, a place to enjoy coffee while looking out over the lake before riding around the land. —Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026

Cary Knauff, a Valparaiso resident who teaches German at Chesterton High School, enjoys going to the taproom on occasion to unwind after work. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 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
• declined
• defined
• designed
• divined
• enshrined

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