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

Best pass play With time winding down late in the first half against Texas A&M, quarterback Taylen Green made one of his best plays of the season. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025

As the holiday season is winding down, flu season is ramping up. —Amanda Hari, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025

As the holiday rush winds down and the year officially comes to a close, many of us are sending last-minute cards and care packages before the clock strikes midnight. —Erica Marrison, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025

Thursday, hitting several of Colorado’s ski resorts before the storm winds down Friday evening, according to the weather service. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025

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