relax
rih-LAKS
Relax (verb) means to rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry. Example: “After the exam, we went to the beach to relax for the afternoon.”
verb
1
To rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry.
"After the exam, we went to the beach to relax for the afternoon."
"She likes to relax with a book after work."
"Just relax — everything is under control."
2
To become or make something less tight, tense, or severe.
"Slowly relax your grip on the handle and let your shoulders drop."
"His muscles relaxed once the pain medication took effect."
"The government relaxed border restrictions for the holidays."
How to use relax
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo ease up — whether that's your body, your mind, or a rule that gets less strict.
Common pairings
relax the rules
relax your muscles
time to relax
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- relaxes
- Past tense
- relaxed
Fill the gap
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After the exam, we went to the beach to _____ for the afternoon.
Etymology
From Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxare, "to loosen or open," from re- plus laxare, "to loosen" (related to lax).
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “relax” mean?
The word “relax” means to rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry. In plain terms, to ease up — whether that's your body, your mind, or a rule that gets less strict.
How do you pronounce “relax”?
“Relax” is pronounced rih-LAKS (/ɹɪˈlæks/ in IPA).
How do you use “relax” in a sentence?
Here is “relax” used in a sentence: “She likes to relax with a book after work.”
What is the opposite of “relax”?
The opposite of “relax” — its antonyms — are stress and excite.
What part of speech is “relax”?
“Relax” is a verb.
Where does the word “relax” come from?
The word “relax” comes from Latin. From Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxare, "to loosen or open," from re- plus laxare, "to loosen" (related to lax).
Is “relax” a common word?
“Relax” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “relax” have?
“Relax” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry.
What is the difference between "relax" and "rest"?
"Rest" means to stop activity and give your body a break, often by sitting or sleeping. "Relax" means to become free of tension, stress, or worry, which is as much mental as physical. You can rest without relaxing if your mind is still anxious.
What is the difference between "relax" and "unwind"?
Both mean to become free of tension, and they are often interchangeable. "Unwind" is more informal and suggests gradually letting go of stress after a busy or demanding time. "Relax" is the broader, more general term.
Can you "relax" a rule or restriction?
Yes. Besides resting, "relax" has a second sense: to make something less tight, tense, or severe. So you can "relax the rules," "relax restrictions," or "relax your grip." In this use it means to ease or loosen rather than to rest.
What is the difference between "relax" and "calm down"?
"Calm down" means to reduce agitation, excitement, or anger and return to a settled state. "Relax" means to release tension and stress and become at ease. You tell an upset person to calm down, but you relax at the end of a long day.
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