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

As the regular season winds down in boys basketball, teams are battling it out for district championships but more notably, many are battling for remaining playoff spots and seedings. —Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026

As winter winds down in North Texas, predictions for spring weather are here. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026

For many people, dessert is a nightly ritual—something sweet after dinner to signal the day is winding down. —Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2026

Inboden wrote in a January email to some faculty that the Center for Teaching and Learning, Vick Advising Excellence Center, Center for Undergraduate Research and Office of Community Engagement will wind down this semester and end this May. —Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 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