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 of wind down

• relax
• chill out

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

The project wound down in 2022, around the same time that Meta began pouring resources into a virtual reality concept known as the metaverse. —Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

Quixote Studios has started to wind down operations in the Atlanta area, redeploying equipment and other assets to Los Angeles and New York. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026

As Operation Midway Blitz began to wind down in the Chicago area last November, federal immigration agents launched a new and deadly surge of enforcement in Minneapolis in December and earlier this year. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

As the questioning was winding down, Johnson asked Hancock if he had been hired by LivaNova. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for wind down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown