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

Labor Day is just around the corner which means summer is officially winding down. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026

There’s something especially comforting about a classic fruit pie as summer winds down. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026

People use it to mark the start of a night, to wind down and to feel less self-conscious around others. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

The Lindsay Clancy trial resumes Monday in Plymouth Superior Court with a forensic psychiatrist expected back on the stand as testimony winds down in the Massachusetts murder case. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 24 Aug. 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