decompress
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to undergo decompression.
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Informal. to relax; unwind.
verb
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to relieve (a substance) of pressure or (of a substance) to be relieved of pressure
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to return (a diver, caisson worker, etc) to a condition of normal atmospheric pressure gradually from a condition of increased pressure or (of a diver, etc) to be returned to such a condition
Usage
What does decompress mean? Decompress means to release or reduce pressure.This literal meaning of decompress can be used in several contexts. Divers who’ve spent time in deep water decompress by coming up slowly. Divers and other underwater workers sometimes decompress by using a decompression chamber. The goal of these processes is to return the body to normal atmospheric pressure in order to avoid decompression sickness.In a medical context, to decompress is to release pressure in the body, such as from inside the skull through surgery.Decompress can also be used in a figurative way meaning to relax or unwind. This sense of the word likens stress to pressure within the body that needs to be released. A close synonym is destress. An even more informal way of saying this is blow off steam.In all senses of the word, the process of decompressing is called decompression.Example: Yoga really helps me to decompress after a stressful day at work.
Other Word Forms
- decompression noun
- decompressive adjective
Etymology
Origin of decompress
1900–05; translation of French décomprimer. See de-, compress
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If I’ve been stimulated, doing a puzzle for a couple of hours is a great way to decompress.
From Los Angeles Times
"From north Wales to Liverpool, it's very chilled, I'm just editing, or I'm reading or I'm just having a little bit of time to decompress before the day actually starts."
From BBC
It was a trade-off worthy of discussion, but Podila was adamant: “I want to decompress on the train.”
From MarketWatch
The tourists are continuing to decompress on their break in Noosa and will return to training on Sunday.
From BBC
“I can use that 10 more hours to do self-care or to decompress,” she said.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
