ENGLISH
REFERENCE

relax

v.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ɹiˈɫæks// UK //ɹɪlˈæks// re·lax Academic Archaic General-service

v. to rest and feel calm after working or being worried. You do this to let your body and mind become less tense.

v. to become less tense, anxious, or stressed; to rest from work or effort. When used transitively, it describes the act of making a muscle or a rule less rigid.


SIMPLE

I like to relax on the sofa after work.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long week of exams, the students went to the beach to relax and enjoy the sun.

COMPLEX

While some people find that physical exercise helps them relax, others prefer quiet activities like reading or meditation to lower their stress levels.

Synonyms
Antonyms
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”).

Usage

The verb can be used intransitively to mean 'to rest' or transitively when referring to muscles or rules.

Pitfall

I am very relax todayI am very relaxed todayLearners often use the base verb 'relax' instead of the adjective 'relaxed' to describe their feelings.

© 2026 English Reference