to relax

Examples

• All

• As soon as she makes this decision, she relaxes and feels herself drifting off again.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Letting that neck completely relax all the way back.

  Jack Neel

• And then go through this exercise of how to relax the body.

• We're going to take a journey that will help you to relax and clear your mind.

  The Last Earth Girl (2020)

• In fact, I have to remind myself to breathe and to relax when I'm doing this work.

• And if there is any there, just gradually allow your jaw to relax and drop a little.

  Dr Julie

• Your core muscles really need relaxing.

  Come Play with Me (1977)

• As the performance progresses, you relax and admit that the poetry fits with the music fairly well.

  Academic text (2000)

• When applying makeup, relax your face so you don't create any tension lines.

• Take a deep breath and relax your muscles to feel more comfortable.

Synonyms

E

to ease

vsto relax

119 2.4

To move slowly and carefully to avoid pain or noise

is about lowering static tightness rather than careful movement to avoid pain

L

to loosen

vsto relax

88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

is about reducing physical tightness rather than easing intensity or rules

E

to ease up

vsto relax

57 3.7

To make something less strong or strict

centres on making something less tight physically rather than easing enforcement

L

to loosen up

vsto relax

• Informal

31 3.4

To relax and become less nervous or tense

is mainly about lowering physical tightness not about social or emotional ease

L

to loose

vsto relax

30 3.0

To let something go free or make it less tight

is the action of reducing tightness not merely setting free in other senses

E

to ease off

vsto relax

9 4.0

To become gradually less strong or severe

aims at lowering tightness directly rather than reducing intensity over time

S

to slacken

vsto relax

1 5.5

Become or make less tight, like a rope

is focused on reducing tightness physically rather than lowering force

U

to unloose

vsto relax

• Archaic

1 7.0

To make something less tight or set something free

is about lowering physical tightness rather than freeing from nonphysical bonds

U

to unbend

vsto relax

6.0

Make a rope or line less tight

is used for making physical tension decrease rather than changing feeling

U

to unlax

vsto relax

• Archaic

9.9

To make the body or mind less tense

is the general physical action of reducing tightness rather than other senses

U

to unloosen

vsto relax

• Archaic

7.2

To make something less tight or free it from something holding it

focuses on reducing physical tightness rather than removing rules or strictness

U

to unstrain

vsto relax

7.8

To make muscles or nerves feel less tight after stress

is about reducing tightness of objects rather than changing how someone feels

R

to relieve muscle tension

vsto relax

3.7

To make muscles feel less tight or stiff

is broader, applying to any physical tightness not only muscles

U

to uncramp

vsto relax

5.6

To free a part of your body from a tight painful position

is about reducing general tightness rather than correcting a cramped position

U

to unstress

vsto relax

6.3

Make a sound in a word weaker or reduce force in a part of an object

focuses on easing physical tightness rather than speech or technical stress

Antonyms

T

to tense

9 4.0

To make the body or muscles tight and unable to relax

Phrasal Verbs

V

to veg and relax

• Informal

7.5

To rest and do nothing to recover from stress or tiredness

How Loose

to slacken

1 5.5

to relax

78 1.0

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology