wind down

To relax and feel less worried or tense after being busy.

• I need time to wind down.
• He wound down with a warm bath after work.
• How do you wind down before going to bed?

How to use it: wind down after something (I wind down after work with a short walk.); wind down by doing something (She winds down by listening to music.)

Similar words: relax, unwind

Opposites: tense up

Common phrases: wind down after work, wind down before bed

To gradually end an activity or close a business or service.

• They are winding down the business.
• The charity wound down its emergency programme last year.
• How long will it take to wind down production?

How to use it: wind down something (The company is winding down its overseas operations.); wind something down (They plan to wind the service down over six months.)

Similar words: phase out, close down

Opposites: start up

Common phrases: wind down operations, wind down something, wind something down

To become slower, quieter, or less busy, often as something nears its end.

• The party is winding down.
• Traffic wound down as the evening grew late.
• Things usually wind down here after the summer season.

Similar words: slow down, quiet down, subside

Opposites: speed up

Common phrases: wind down slowly, activities wind down

To lower something by turning a handle.

• Wind down the window, please.
• He wound down the car window to ask for directions.
• Can you wind the platform down using that handle?

How to use it: wind something down (Could you wind the window down?)

Similar words: lower, roll down

Opposites: raise

Common phrases: wind down windows, wind something down

To let a wound spring or mechanism slowly lose its stored power.

• Wind down the toy before opening it.
• The clock’s spring wound down overnight.
• The technician wound the mechanism down before removing its cover.

How to use it: wind something down (Wind the mechanism down before opening the case.)

Similar words: unwind

Opposites: wind up

Common phrases: wind down something, wind something down