unwind

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unwind' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of calming down, relaxing, and/or taking a break. For example, "After a long day at the office, I decided to take some time to unwind by going for a walk in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I find that, for me, the best way to relax and unwind is to exercise; I have taken up running and am currently training for my first 10k race.

The Guardian

If the initial reason for doing the film was rational, it quickly became emotional: an opportunity to download, unwind and confess at the end of a hard, hard day.

The Guardian

A great place to unwind after a day in the elements.

The Guardian - Travel

07989 512859, thezestlife.co.uk, two-night retreat £285pp (two sharing) ID1608248 Only three hours from London but it could be a million miles away, the hamlet of Geldeston on the river Waveney is my ideal escape to unwind and de-stress.

The Guardian - Travel

Investec analyst Ian Gordon said: When we downgraded to hold [ in January], we cited five primary concerns: (1) frothy 2013 sellside forecasts (2) payment protection insurance top-up risk (3) enhanced capital notes unwind (4) other income decline and (5) government overhang.

The Guardian - Business

Built in 2010, the spa is immaculate and deservedly well-loved by the Viennese, but even on a busy day there is plenty of space to unwind.

The Guardian - Travel

And naps have to be a good thing for preschoolers, surely, since they need to unwind and get enough sleep for their brains to develop?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Slow the pace with an invigorating scrub and massage in the local hammam or simply unwind by the pool with a good book.

The Guardian - Travel

First unwind in a private steam cabinet: let your skin warm and the stress evaporate.

The Guardian - Travel

How do you unwind after election night?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It may all be true, and there is certainly more pain to come as the latter continue trying to unwind unprofitable positions in the former.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unwind" when you want to convey the idea of relaxing and relieving stress, often after a period of intense activity or pressure. It suggests a gentle release of tension, both mental and physical.

Common error

Avoid using "unwind" in highly formal or professional contexts where a more sophisticated term like "de-stress" or "relax" might be more appropriate. While "unwind" is widely understood, it can sometimes sound too casual for certain settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unwind" is as an intransitive verb, denoting the action of relaxing or reducing stress. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its usage in various contexts to describe the process of calming down.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "unwind" is a versatile term signifying relaxation and stress reduction, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. Predominantly used in neutral contexts such as news and media, it effectively conveys the idea of easing tension. While widely accepted, it's best to avoid using it in highly formal settings where more sophisticated alternatives might be preferable. With an expert rating of 4.5, "unwind" is a grammatically sound and contextually relevant choice for describing the process of calming down.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relax

A more general term for reducing tension, applicable in many contexts.

de-stress

Specifically focuses on reducing stress, often implying a deliberate effort.

chill out

An informal way to suggest relaxing and taking it easy.

loosen up

Implies becoming less tense or rigid, both physically and mentally.

wind down

Suggests a gradual transition to a state of relaxation, often before sleep.

recline

Physical act of relaxing in a horizontal position.

unravel

Refers to untangling something complex, metaphorically used for resolving issues.

untangle

Similar to unravel, but focuses more on removing knots or complications.

discharge

Releasing built-up emotional energy.

simplify

Making something less complicated or easier to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "unwind" in a sentence?

You can use "unwind" in a sentence to describe the act of relaxing after a stressful period. For example, "After a long day at work, I like to unwind by reading a book".

What are some synonyms for "unwind"?

Some synonyms for "unwind" include "relax", "de-stress", and "chill out".

Is it correct to say "unwind myself"?

While grammatically understandable, it's more common and natural to simply say "unwind" without the reflexive pronoun "myself". For instance, say "I need to unwind" rather than "I need to unwind myself".

What is the difference between "unwind" and "wind down"?

"Unwind" generally refers to relaxing and relieving stress, while "wind down" often implies a gradual transition to a state of relaxation, especially before going to sleep. They're similar, but "wind down" suggests a process of slowing down.