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

The space has real books to read and places to lounge within a small bamboo forest, making for an ideal spot to unwind or chill away from the stages. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026

Indulge in Fabio Trabocchi and Michael Mina’s culinary creations on Ilma, unwind at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, and soak up live music, movie nights under the stars, cooking demos and wine tastings. —Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026

The signature welcome party will take place on Friday evening, giving brands, collectors, media, and tastemakers a chance to connect and unwind. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026

Those trades are now unwinding quickly. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Mar. 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