# relaxed

/ɹiˈɫækst/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈækst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relaxed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. calm and not worried

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling calm and comfortable because you are not worried or stressed.

For teachers: characterised by a state of psychological ease and freedom from anxiety.

- He felt much more relaxed after his two-week holiday by the sea.
- Despite the high stakes of the negotiation, the lead diplomat maintained a relaxed demeanour that helped de-escalate the tension in the room.

### 2. informal or less strict

adjective · CEFR B2

not strict or formal; easygoing.

For teachers: having a lack of strictness or formality; lenient in application or atmosphere.

- The office has a relaxed dress code, so most people wear jeans.
- The school adopted a more relaxed approach to its curriculum, allowing students to pursue independent projects alongside their core subjects.

### 3. physically loose

adjective · CEFR B2

not tight or tensed, especially when talking about your muscles.

For teachers: exhibiting a lack of physical tension or contraction; in a state of physiological rest.

- Try to keep your shoulders relaxed while you are sitting at your desk.
- The therapist instructed the patient to keep their leg muscles relaxed during the examination to ensure an accurate assessment of the joint.

## Examples

- The athlete relaxed his muscles after the long race.
- The government decided to relax the travel restrictions once the number of new cases began to drop.
- As the tension in the room dissipated, the negotiator visibly relaxed his posture, signaling a newfound openness to the proposed terms of the treaty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.