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 of wind down

• relax
• chill out

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

But worn sheets, flat pillows, and a comforter that’s lost its fluff can make winding down less inviting. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

In autumn, the expansive porch is ideal for sipping coffee in the morning and winding down with a glass of wine in the evening. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

In the aerial footage shot by Moreno and Marciniw, the sound of the engine’s motor winds down and a horn blares, possibly warning the pilot that the main rotor speed had dropped too low or the helicopter had lost hydraulics. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Some Providence parents shook their heads as the clock wound down; others shouted expletives toward school administrators and Nazareth players. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for wind down

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