windup

1 of 3

noun

wind·​up ˈwīnd-ˌəp How to pronounce windup (audio)
1
a
: the act of bringing to an end
b
: a concluding act or part : finish
2
a
: a series of regular and distinctive motions (such as swinging the arms) made by a pitcher preparatory to releasing a pitch
b
: an exaggerated backswing (as in tennis)

windup

2 of 3

adjective

: operated by a spring mechanism wound by hand

wind up

3 of 3

verb

wound up also winded up; winding up; winds up

transitive verb

1
: to bring to a conclusion : end
2
a
: to put in order for the purpose of bringing to an end
winds up the meeting
b
British : to effectuate the winding up of

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come to a conclusion
b
: to arrive in a place, situation, or condition at the end or as a result of a course of action
wound up as millionaires
2
: to make a pitching windup

Example Sentences

Noun the windup of the negotiations He went into the windup, then threw the pitch. a pitcher with an unusual windup Her brother's act was just a wind-up to get her angry. Adjective She has an old windup record player in her attic. Verb try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time her speeches usually wind up with one last joke See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
He's got deception with that windup. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2020 On a day in which Chargers QB Justin Herbert earned whoas for a TD pass that traveled nearly 65 yards in the air, Garoppolo, without a big windup, flung a deep ball in the second quarter that covered 59 yards in the air to wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Dec. 2021 The researchers likened the experience to a baseball pitcher who tugs on their baseball cap before the windup. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022 There are pitchers who have repeatable mechanics: Their windup and delivery is the same every time, which reduces the chances of injury and facilitates easy and simple corrections. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2023 Love had a long windup and often stared receivers down. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023 If a pitcher isn't in his windup before 20 seconds, a ball will be called. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2023 The pitcher must begin his windup before time runs out. Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2023 Venezuela Luis Garcia will show off his new windup for Team Venezuela in the WBC, but the main Astros attraction for this sneaky title contender is second baseman and Hall of Fame candidate Jose Altuve. Michael Shapiro, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Say goodbye to Rooster Teeth’s longstanding rebus-style logo of the rooster and the windup chattering teeth. Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Mar. 2023 She is perched on a wooden chair on stage as the audience finds their seats, shuttled around like a slow-moving windup car on a child’s racetrack. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2023 The nickname of Dune’s younger brother, David, came from a windup grandfather clock in the house. John Kelly, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2022
Verb
After all of the shuffling of inmates and staff, Alabama will wind up with more prison space overall. Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al, 8 Apr. 2023 After his bogey-free opening round, his only slip-up Friday came at the long par-3 fourth, when his tee shot wound up against the grandstand. Dave Skretta, ajc, 7 Apr. 2023 Still ahead by a pair, Devin Williams took over for the ninth and was greeted by a shot off the bat of Dansby Swanson that hit him in the right shoulder and wound up as a base hit. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2023 Needless to say, nearly all of them wind up as suspects when the Maharaja gets kidnapped, with a ransom demand of $50 million. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Mar. 2023 There’s a stilted formalism to its aesthetic that feels as tightly wound up as its protagonist (and its lead actor), for better and for worse. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 30 Mar. 2023 Such efforts, however, face growing legal challenges from gun rights advocates - and the issue could ultimately wind up with the Supreme Court ruling on a pivotal question: whether the right to bear arms extends to these ammunition magazines. Mark Berman And Todd C. Frankel, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Mar. 2023 Gatorland has opened Croc Rock, a three-pronged adventure that begins with a rock-climbing activity, proceeds to a 150-foot swinging chain bridge and winds up with a 350-foot-long zip line. Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2023 Such efforts, however, face growing legal challenges from gun rights advocates — and the issue could ultimately wind up with the Supreme Court ruling on a pivotal question: whether the right to bear arms extends to these ammunition magazines. Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'windup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1784, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of windup was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near windup

Cite this Entry

“Windup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windup. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

windup

1 of 3 noun
wind·​up ˈwīn-ˌdəp How to pronounce windup (audio)
1
a
: the act of bringing to an end
b
: a last act or part : finish
2
: a series of motions (as swinging the arms over the head) made by a pitcher prior to releasing a pitch

windup

2 of 3 adjective
: having a spring wound by hand
windup toys

wind up

3 of 3 verb
(ˈ)wīn-ˈdəp
1
: to bring or come to a conclusion : end
let's wind up the meeting quickly
2
: to arrive in a place, situation, or state
wound up losing the game
wound up as millionaires
3
: to make a windup in pitching a baseball

Legal Definition

wind up

transitive verb
wound up; winding up
: to bring to an end by taking care of unfinished business
ordered to wind up his practice
specifically : to conclude by removing liabilities and distributing any remaining assets to partners or shareholders
wind up the business and affairs of a corporation in dissolution
wind up a receivership

More from Merriam-Webster on windup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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