- to make (muscles, a grip, etc) less tense or rigid or (of muscles, a grip, etc) to become looser or less rigid
- (intransitive) to take rest or recreation, as from work or effort
- to lessen the force of (effort, concentration, etc) or (of effort) to become diminished
- to make (rules or discipline) less rigid or strict or (of rules, etc) to diminish in severity
- (intransitive) (of a person) to become less formal; unbend
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•lax•ing /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- causing or bringing about a feeling of relaxation:a relaxing swim.
re•lax /rɪˈlæks/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to (cause to) be made less tense, rigid, or firm: [~ + object]a drug to relax the muscles.[no object]Her muscles relaxed during sleep.
- to make less strict or severe:[~ + object]I can't relax the rules for anyone in the class.
- to enjoy or bring relief from the effects of tension, anxiety, etc.: [no object]Come in, sit down and relax.[~ + object]Maybe the quiet music will relax you.
re•lax
(ri laks′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
re•lax′a•tive, re•lax•a•tory
(ri lak′sə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
re•lax′er, n.
- to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax:to relax the muscles.
- to diminish the force of.
- to slacken or abate, as effort, attention, etc.
- to make less strict or severe, as rules, discipline, etc.:to relax the requirements for a license.
- to release or bring relief from the effects of tension, anxiety, etc.:A short swim always relaxes me.
v.i.
- to become less tense, rigid, or firm.
- to become less strict or severe;
grow milder. - to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., esp. for the sake of rest or recreation.
- to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.
- Latin relaxāre to stretch out again, loosen, equivalent. to re- re- + laxāre to loosen, derivative of laxus slack, lax
- Middle English relaxen 1350–1400
- 1. 6. loosen, slacken. 2. mitigate, weaken, lessen, reduce. 4. ease. 6. unbend. 7. relent, soften.
- 1. 6. tighten, tense.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
relax /rɪˈlæks/ vb
'relaxing' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ambient
- bronchodilator
- comfortable
- détente
- dreamy
- for
- laxative
- lounge
- mellow
- mustard plaster
- natural childbirth
- relaxation
- shorts
- Transcendental Meditation
- truth drug
- edrophonium
- emollient
- give
- idle
- laxation
- mood music
- playclothes
- rest