verb
relax
rih-LAKS/rɪˈlæks/
To ease tension or pressure.
The older man relaxes in the garden chair with lowered shoulders.
Etymology
The underlying image is loosening something tight, originally especially muscles. That physical easing extended to reduced severity or rigor and to becoming less mentally tense.
In context
the minute you tell them to relax people do kind of get tense
More examples
- She relaxes her shoulders and takes a deep breath.
- His friendly smile relaxed everyone in the room.
- The school is relaxing its rules about cell phones.
Forms
relax · relaxes · relaxed · relaxing
relaxation noun — The process of becoming less tense.
Similar words
- unwind
- Emphasizes becoming calmer after work or a stressful experience.
- ease
- Emphasizes reducing pressure, discomfort, or difficulty rather than becoming calm.
- loosen
- Emphasizes making a grip, restriction, or control less tight.