Word
unwinding
Phoneticsun·wind·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈwaɪndɪŋ/
UK/ʌnwˈaɪndɪŋ/
Definition
v. to relax and let stress go after busy or hard work. You use this when you calm down at the end of the day.
v. present participle of 'unwind'; refers to relaxing after stress or to unrolling something coiled.
Examples
“She is unwinding with hot tea after work.”
“After a long shift, he spends an hour unwinding with music before cooking dinner.”
“After months of deadlines, they spent the weekend unwinding in the countryside, walking slowly and leaving phones off.”
Examples
simple
“She is unwinding with hot tea after work.”
contextual
“After a long shift, he spends an hour unwinding with music before cooking dinner.”
complex
“After months of deadlines, they spent the weekend unwinding in the countryside, walking slowly and leaving phones off.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unwinding” in context.
Verb
01. enjoy unwinding
“We enjoy unwinding at home after a busy day.”
verb + noun
02. start unwinding
“After dinner, I start unwinding with a short walk.”
verb + noun
03. unwinding after work
“She loves unwinding after work with a hot bath.”
verb + prep + noun
04. unwinding with music
“He spent the evening unwinding with music in his room.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
05. evening unwinding
“My evening unwinding usually includes tea and quiet music.”
adj + noun
06. peaceful unwinding
“They enjoyed peaceful unwinding in the garden after dinner.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. moment of unwinding
“A quiet walk gave her a brief moment of unwinding.”
noun + prep + noun
08. time for unwinding
“After the exams, we finally had time for unwinding.”
noun + prep + noun
09. need time to unwind
“After hard work, I need time to unwind.”
10. perfect for evening unwinding
“A warm bath is perfect for evening unwinding.”
11. unwind with some music
“In the evening, I unwind with some music.”
12. unwinding after a long day
“I spent an hour unwinding after a long day at work.”
Usage
Intransitive when meaning to relax; transitive when meaning to unroll something.
Real-World Examples
“After a tiring day as a school maintenance worker, 28-year-old Paul loves nothing more than unwinding with a good romance novel – ideally one with a fantasy or horror element to it.” “Trying to unwind the carbonized rolls frequently reduced them to piles of ash, eventually prompting Italian authorities to stop the practice.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unwinding