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

Synonyms

• relax
• chill out [slang]

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

Byron Buxton appears close to returning from the injured list and the Twins have no plans to give the veteran center fielder more off days as the team winds down a season that won’t end in the postseason. —John Shipley, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2025

Only by that point, wedding and film are winding down, instead, into an all too neat conclusion. —Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025

Rival Rite Aid is also completely winding down its retail footprint, following a bankruptcy filing in May. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

The decision to wind down his gallery, which for the time being will maintain its offices at 509 West Twenty-Seventh Street, was made in close collaboration with his estate. —News Desk, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for wind down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown