What does "relax" mean?

1. (to rest and calm down) to rest and stop feeling worried or stressed. 2. (to loosen muscles) to make your muscles or body less tight. 3. (to make rules less strict) to make a rule, law, or control less severe.

How do you use "relax"?

often used as an intransitive verb without an object. can be used transitively with a body part as the object. usually takes an abstract noun like 'rules', 'laws', or 'restrictions' as an object.

relax

US //ɹiˈɫæks// UK //ɹɪlˈæks// re·lax

1 to rest and calm down (v.)
A1 Beginner

to rest and stop feeling worried or stressed.

to become less tense, anxious, or stressed; to engage in recreation or rest.

Example

After a long day at work, I like to relax by listening to music.

Example

Many professionals find it difficult to relax fully during their holidays, as they feel a constant urge to check their work emails.

Usage

often used as an intransitive verb without an object.
- stress
- worry
2 to loosen muscles (v.)
B1 Intermediate Medicine

to make your muscles or body less tight.

to make a part of the body less rigid or tense; to reduce muscular contraction.

Example

Try to relax your shoulders and breathe deeply.

Example

The therapist instructed the patient to relax his jaw muscles to alleviate the tension headaches he had been experiencing.

Usage

can be used transitively with a body part as the object.
- loosen
- slacken
- tense
- tighten

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3 to make rules less strict (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

to make a rule, law, or control less severe.

to make a rule, law, or restriction less strict or more lenient.

Example

The government decided to relax the travel restrictions for the summer.

Example

Economists argued that the central bank should relax its lending criteria to encourage small business growth during the recession.

Usage

usually takes an abstract noun like 'rules', 'laws', or 'restrictions' as an object.
- tighten
- strengthen

Origin

From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).