windup

noun

wind·up | \ ˈwīnd-ˌəp

Definition of windup

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : the act of bringing to an end

b : a concluding act or part : finish

2a : a series of regular and distinctive motions (such as swinging the arms) made by a pitcher preparatory to releasing a pitch

b : an exaggerated backswing (as in tennis)

windup

adjective

Definition of windup (Entry 2 of 3)

: operated by a spring mechanism wound by hand

wind up

verb

wound up also winded up; winding up; winds up

Definition of wind up (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to bring to a conclusion : end

2a : to put in order for the purpose of bringing to an end winds up the meeting

b British : to effectuate the winding up of

intransitive verb

1a : to come to a conclusion

b : to arrive in a place, situation, or condition at the end or as a result of a course of action wound up as millionaires

2 : to make a pitching windup

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about windup

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Examples of windup in a Sentence

Noun the windup of the negotiations He went into the windup, then threw the pitch. a pitcher with an unusual windup Her brother's act was just a wind-up to get her angry. Adjective She has an old windup record player in her attic. Verb try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time her speeches usually wind up with one last joke

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Get a 12-pack of windup bunnies and chicks on Amazon for $18.95 13. — Lindsey Hunter Lopez, USA TODAY, "27 best Easter gifts for kids," 13 Mar. 2021 Mayor Frank Curran made the first pitch from a full windup, bouncing it. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego Stadium farewell: Readers share their favorite memories," 28 Feb. 2021 In fact, early in his career, Bauer was a huge Lincecum fan and tried to emulate the Freak’s windup. — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, "Top free-agent pitcher Trevor Bauer to the Giants? Here are the pros and cons," 11 Dec. 2020 Semien noted Greinke had switched to a full windup during the at-bat. — Matt Kawahara, SFChronicle.com, "A’s Marcus Semien hopes to build on walk-off hit amid a slow start," 8 Aug. 2020 When Jackie Augustine opens a chicken coop door one brisk spring morning in upstate New York, the hens bolt out like windup toys. — Lynn Freehill-maye, The Christian Science Monitor, "A new vision for farming: Chickens, sheep, and ... solar panels," 23 Apr. 2020 The new windup kept the ball hidden long enough, hitters couldn’t pick up Tiant’s release point. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: El Tiante and the dream that almost wasn't in game one of the 1975 World Series," 29 Mar. 2020 The Dodgers and Yankees split the first four games and Stengel liked the deception of Larsen's no-windup delivery. — NBC News, "Don Larsen, Yankees pitcher who threw only perfect World Series game, dies at 90," 2 Jan. 2020 All right, without any more windup, here's Kieran Snyder from Textio. — Wired Staff, Wired, "How Machine Learning Can Help Stamp Out Hiring Bias," 21 Feb. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb When Marco gets beaten up by one of Timmy’s friends, the two boys wind up on rival sides of a gang war in which there are no winners, only victims. — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week: James Dean in ‘Giant’ on TCM and more," 2 Apr. 2021 Quite a few of them eventually wind up in homeless encampments. — oregonlive, "Dumptown: How Portland’s trash problem spiraled out of control," 12 Mar. 2021 Typically, the Colts GM tries to wait out the market before finding bargains who wind up being solid contributors. — Jim Ayello, The Indianapolis Star, "NFL Free Agency Day 1 Diary: Colts make inquiries but stay quiet," 15 Mar. 2021 College football’s top individual prize could be decided in Atlanta Trask and Mac Jones of Alabama are two of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy, which may wind up going to the one who has the best game Saturday night. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "No. 1 Alabama-No. 7 Florida live stream (12/19): How to watch SEC title game online, TV, time," 19 Dec. 2020 Shortlisted for the Booker Prize (the winner will be announced Nov. 17), Mengiste’s second novel, set in 1935 Ethiopia, gives voice to a variety of characters who wind up on a collision course when the Italian army invades. — Washington Post, "New in paperback: 13 September releases worth reading," 28 Sep. 2020 And yes, there are quarterbacks on the market, some of whom could wind up starting in new locales. — Barry Wilner, ajc, "Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday," 13 Mar. 2021 And yes, there are quarterbacks on the market, some of whom could wind up starting in new locales. — Barry Wilner, Star Tribune, "Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday," 13 Mar. 2021 And yes, there are quarterbacks on the market, some of whom could wind up starting in new locales. — Barry Wilner, orlandosentinel.com, "Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday," 13 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'windup.' 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

17 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Windup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windup. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for windup

windup

noun

English Language Learners Definition of windup

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the things that are done at the end of something (such as an event or process) : the final part of something

baseball : the movements that a pitcher makes before the ball is thrown

British, informal : something done or said in usually a joking way to make someone annoyed or upset

windup

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of windup (Entry 2 of 2)

: having a motor that is given power when someone turns a handle

See the full definition for windup in the English Language Learners Dictionary

windup

noun

wind·up | \ ˈwīnd-ˌəp

Kids Definition of windup

1 : the last part of something : finish

2 : a swing of a baseball pitcher's arm before the pitch is thrown

wind up

transitive verb

wound up; winding up

Legal Definition of wind up

: to bring to an end by taking care of unfinished business ordered to wind up his practice specifically : to conclude by removing liabilities and distributing any remaining assets to partners or shareholders wind up the business and affairs of a corporation in dissolution wind up a receivership

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