relax

Meaning

1. (transitive) To make something loose.
2. (dated, transitive) To make something loose.
3. (intransitive) To become loose.
4. (transitive) To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
5. (intransitive) To rest and become relieved of stress.
6. (transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
7. (intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
8. (transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
9. (intransitive) To become more lenient.

Synonyms

loosen

rest

slacken

repose

unbend

calm

loosen up

ease

unwind

calm down

take it easy

lie

relieve

lie down

lie on the side

at leisure

chill out

slow down

play

loose

abate

mitigate

sleep

😴

wind down

weaken

slack up

have a rest

slack

unstrain

become loose

unlax

feel at home

remit

ease off

make peaceful

diminish

take a rest

decrease

lessen

throw oneself down

be less active

soothe

decompress

free from

unbrace

reduce

recreate

relaxation

moderate

quiet

Translations

relajar

relâcher

entspannen

rilassarsi

relaxar

ausruhen

détendre

rilassare

lockern

relaxar

allentare

χαλαρώνω

se détendre

ontspannen

sich ausruhen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈlæks/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: relaxen

In summary

From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”).