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

• chill
• chill out [slang]
• de-stress
• decompress
• loosen up
• mellow (out)
• relax
• unwind

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

State of play: The Justice Department after the 2024 presidential election moved to wind down the criminal cases against Trump to comply with a longstanding policy that sitting presidents can't be prosecuted. —Erin Doherty, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025

There was a time back there, shortly after the pandemic began to wind down, when Taylor was everywhere in the U.K.’s music press. —Sophie Williams, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2025

In Pictures | Getty Images HSBC is preparing to wind down its M&A and equity capital markets businesses in Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. amid a broader overhaul of its investment banking operations. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025

There’s also a relaxing colored sunset simulation to wind down for bedtime. —Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1