unwind

play

verb un·wind \ˌən-ˈwīnd\

Definition of unwind

unwound

play \ˌən-ˈwau̇nd\;

unwinding

transitive verb
1a : to cause to uncoil : wind off : unrollb : to free from or as if from a binding or wrappingc : 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

See unwind defined for English-language learners

See unwind defined for kids

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 of unwind from the Web

One of the goals of gradually unwinding the balance sheet would be to not disrupt broader economic growth despite the possibility of rising long-term rates.

— josh boak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Fed debating when to unwind $4.5 trillion in bond holdings", 5 July 2017
Situated in a strip mall next to two sister restaurants, Peace Burger appears to be a favorite spot for DFW employees to unwind after work.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Dallas", 30 June 2017
Members of the public can spend an entire day unwinding at Rancho La Puerta, the legendary 3,000-acre rustic wellness retreat in Tecate, or even just grab a bite to eat at a new Mexican cafe adjacent to its organic farm and cooking school.

— michele parente, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Destination spas offer luxury to the masses", 27 June 2017
Jeff’s fans stood near the front, while the post-Center City Sips crowd looked to continue to unwind after its extended happy hour.

— sofiya ballin, Philly.com, "New nightclub NOTO wants to change the dance scene in Philly", 22 June 2017
TOKYO—On their recent honeymoon in Japan, Jason and Nicole Francis savored the temples of the ancient capital of Kyoto and unwound at a resort with a private hot spring.

— alastair gale, WSJ, "Japan Wants Tourists, Except Those in Mario Costumes Driving Go-Karts", 21 June 2017
Still, the opioid epidemic can likely be unwound more effectively through education, treatment, and a shift toward cannabinoids for pain management than an inhumane, law-and-order campaign of tougher drug penalties and longer incarceration.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "How Drug Prohibition Fuels American Carnage", 21 June 2017
After the season ended, Glenn Robinson III took off two to three weeks to unwind.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Pacers forward Glenn Robinson III uses dunk contest win as springboard", 19 June 2017
To unwind, Allen, a violinist, would play classical music from his tent, the tunes at times competing with the sounds of exploding bombs in the distance to fill the night sky.

— moriah balingit, Washington Post, "From the battlefield to the classroom: Are veterans a solution to teacher shortage?", 16 June 2017

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.

First Known Use of unwind

14th century

UNWIND Defined for English Language Learners

unwind

play

verb

Definition of unwind for English Language Learners

: to move the end of something (such as a piece of string) that is wound in a roll, coil, etc., so that it becomes straight
: to relax and stop thinking about work, problems, etc.