relax
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax.
to relax the muscles.
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to diminish the force of.
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to slacken or abate, as effort, attention, etc.
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to make less strict or severe, as rules, discipline, etc..
to relax the requirements for a license.
- Synonyms:
- ease
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to release or bring relief from the effects of tension, anxiety, etc..
A short swim always relaxes me.
verb (used without object)
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to become less tense, rigid, or firm.
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to become less strict or severe; grow milder.
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to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., especially for the sake of rest or recreation.
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to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.
verb
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to make (muscles, a grip, etc) less tense or rigid or (of muscles, a grip, etc) to become looser or less rigid
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(intr) to take rest or recreation, as from work or effort
on Sundays, she just relaxes
she relaxes by playing golf
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to lessen the force of (effort, concentration, etc) or (of effort) to become diminished
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to make (rules or discipline) less rigid or strict or (of rules, etc) to diminish in severity
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(intr) (of a person) to become less formal; unbend
Other Word Forms
- overrelax verb
- relaxable adjective
- relaxative adjective
- relaxatory adjective
- relaxed adjective
- relaxedly adverb
- relaxer noun
- unrelaxing adjective
Etymology
Origin of relax
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relaxen, from Latin relaxāre “to stretch out again, loosen,” equivalent to re- re- ( def. ) + laxāre “to loosen,” derivative of laxus “loose, spacious, wide,” lax 1 ( def. )
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.
"I haven't got constant interruptions… it's a much more relaxed atmosphere."
From BBC
Meals feel less like a relaxing reprieve after long, arduous missions and more like a tension-filled calm before a storm you’re 100% certain is coming — and may very well take you with it.
From Salon
“Just being able to relax and not have our guards up was really amazing.”
From Los Angeles Times
Texas is emerging as a US tech world El Dorado, luring investments with cheap energy, relaxed regulations, tax incentives and reasonably affordable real estate for massive data centers.
From Barron's
Rasheed can do a pretty great British accent and boasts a relaxed and natural confidence honed from starring in his own comedy skits on YouTube.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
