Unwind meaning in English
Learn how to use Unwind correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to unwind (after work): to relax (after work)
After work, Icarus unwinds with a cup of hot chocolate. His warm drink helps him to relax.
This is an irregular verb:
I unwind / I unwound / I have unwound
to unwind (a ball of string): to undo, to unravel, to pull apart (a ball of string)
The cat unwound all my balls of wool today. The wool is all over the floor now.
Pronunciation examples
UK: Let's unwind with some morphine before dinner.
US: The doctor unwound the bandage from his leg.
Examples
- "Donna : So how do you unwind after a long day at the office?"
- "That would help us unwind from our difficult and stressful work routines."
Exercise 1
Dr. Donna asks Susie how she unwinds after a long day at the office?
Another way to ask this is: How do you after a long day at the office?
Another way to ask this is: How do you after a long day at the office?
Dr. Donna asks Susie how she unwinds after a long day at the office?
Another way to ask this is: How do you relax after a long day at the office?
Another way to ask this is: How do you relax after a long day at the office?
relax: "To unwind (after a long day at the office)" means to relax. This is the figurative use of the verb, "to unwind" literally means "to disentangle" or to "free" from a knot, by separating. Dr. Donna is asking how she "relaxes" after work, and Susie replies that she drinks a glass of wine and watches a popular television program.
feel: The verb "to unwind" means to relax, it is unrelated to the verb "to feel". Donna is asking Susie how she relaxes, not how she feels.
sleep: The verb "to unwind" means to relax, it is unrelated to the verb "to sleep". Donna is asking Susie how she relaxes, not how she sleeps.
recover: The verb "to unwind" means to relax, it is unrelated to the verb "to recover" which means to "recuperate" or "get better" in this context. Donna is asking Susie how she relaxes, not how she "recovers".
Exercise 2
Which of the following verbs share a similar meaning with "to relax"?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Which of the following verbs share a similar meaning with "to relax"?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This term shares a similar meaning with "to relax". "To take it easy" and "to relax" are very similar expressions, which mean "to be at ease" or "to rest".
This is the only verb that doesn't share the same meaning with "to relax". To "lie down" is to lie horizontally on one's back, such as one might do in bed. This verb is irregular: Lie down / lay down / have lain down.
This term shares a similar meaning with "to relax". "To unwind (after a long day at the office)" means to relax, or to become free of nervous tension. Example: The holiday helped him unwind after a stressful period at work. This verb is irregular: unwind / unwound / have unwound.
This term shares a similar meaning with "to relax". "To chill out" is an informal expression which describes the act of relaxing or taking it easy, especially after a state of agitation.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Unwind'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
