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

Plus, the Dutch utility GasTerra, led by Annie Krist, is winding down operations. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Even amid the excitement, Spare Keg is winding down operations at its outpost in Creede, leaving it with the Poncha Springs and Alamosa locations. —Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025

The corporation has been winding down its operations. —Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

The 20-date 2026 arena tour will hit Denver, Kansas City, Detroit, Minneapolis, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles before winding down on March 27 at Oakland Arena in Oakland, Calif. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Oct. 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