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

Now, decades later, Snider was winding down his career, and Prevost was about to participate in a conclave to elect the next pope. — Scott Detrow, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Your spidey-senses start tingling as the game winds down, and something just tells you to start rolling the camera. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

The decision to wind down Cruise and refocus on personal autonomy sharpened the company’s priorities, Barra said. — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Two managers confirmed to The Star Friday afternoon that the location was winding down this weekend. — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 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