wind down

verb

wound down also winded down; winding down; winds down

intransitive verb

1
: to draw gradually toward an end
the party was winding down
2
: relax, unwind
wind down with a good book

transitive verb

: to cause a gradual lessening of usually with the intention of bringing to an end

Examples of wind down in a Sentence

not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As whitewater rafting at New River Gorge winds down for the season, families can turn to airborne adventures such as zip line canopy tours or a bridge walk beneath the New River Gorge Bridge. Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 Industry types were fond of hanging out there after a hard night, playing ping pong and winding down with food and drink. Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 Their WithFriends and GoFundMe pages will stay active through December to help in the process of winding down. James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025 The exhibition winds down in the thirties, after Man Ray soured on photography. Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wind down

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wind down was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wind down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind%20down. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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