unwind

Everyday

1. To unwind means to relax after being busy, tired or worried: «I unwind by reading.» tree →
2. To unwind something means to undo it from a roll or coil, like unwinding a ball of wool or a hosepipe. tree →

In the lessons

In health and wellbeing lessons, ways to unwind include sport, music, reading and time outdoors. In everyday life, parents unwind after work. In craft and science lessons, you unwind thread, string or wire. Phrases: «unwind after school», «time to unwind», «unwind the hose».

Examples

• After a busy day, I like to unwind with a book. tree →
• Dad unwinds by going for a run. tree →
• We unwound the hose to water the garden. tree →
• The kite string unwound as the kite flew higher. tree →
• A warm bath helps me unwind before bed. tree →
• The cat unwound the ball of wool all over the floor. tree →

Note

Irregular past: unwound (say «un-WOUND», rhymes with «found»), not «unwinded». Say «un-WINED» (like «wind» a clock), not like «wind» the breeze. Opposite of the second sense: wind up.