Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To make something less tight, tense, or severe.
   • To cause someone to feel less worried, nervous, or stressed; to make someone feel calm and comfortable.
   • To make a rule, law, or restriction less strict.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To become less tense, tight, or severe.
   • To become calmer and less worried or formal.
   • To rest and engage in activities that are not demanding.

Usage Examples

• Transitive Verb:

  • The government decided to relax the travel restrictions. (The government made the rules less strict.)
  • A gentle massage can help relax tight muscles. (It can make muscles less tight.)
  • She listened to music to relax her mind before the exam. (She used music to make her mind less anxious.)

• Intransitive Verb:

  • After a long week, I just want to relax at home. (I want to rest and be at ease.)
  • His stern expression finally relaxed into a smile. (His facial expression became less tense and more friendly.)
  • The rules have relaxed over the years. (The rules have become less strict over time.)

Advanced Usage

• "Relax into something": To gradually become comfortable with a situation or activity.

  • It took a few minutes to relax into the conversation. (It took time to become comfortable and less formal in the talk.)

• "Relax one's grip/hold on something": To reduce control or pressure, either literally or figuratively.

  • The company needs to relax its grip on creative processes. (The company should reduce its strict control.)

Variants and Related Words

• Relaxed (adj): Feeling or characterized by a state of ease; not tense or anxious. Also used to describe a casual, non-strict atmosphere.

  • He has a very relaxed attitude towards deadlines.
  • We spent a relaxed evening chatting.

• Relaxation (n): The state of being free from tension and anxiety. Also, the action of making a rule or muscle less tight.

  • Yoga is excellent for relaxation.
  • The relaxation of import laws helped the economy.

• Relaxant (n/adj): (A substance) causing relaxation.

  • A muscle relaxant.

Synonyms

• Unwind: To relax after a period of work or tension.
• Loosen: To make something less tight (often physically).
• Ease (up): To become less severe or intense.
• De-stress: To get rid of feelings of stress.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Relax back (into): To lean back comfortably into a seat or position.
  • She relaxed back into the armchair with a sigh.

Related Idioms

• "Relax and enjoy it": A phrase used to encourage someone to stop worrying and appreciate a situation.

  • You've worked hard for this vacation, so just relax and enjoy it.

• "Let one's hair down": To relax and behave informally.

  • After the conference, the scientists let their hair down at the bar.

Verb

1. make less active or fast
   • He slackened his pace as he got tired
   • Don't relax your efforts now
2. become less severe or strict
   • The rules relaxed after the new director arrived
3. make less severe or strict
   • The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught
4. become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner
   • our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group
5. cause to feel relaxed
   • A hot bath always relaxes me
6. become loose or looser or less tight
   • The noose loosened
   • the rope relaxed
7. make less taut
   • relax the tension on the rope
8. become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
   • He relaxed in the hot tub
   • Let's all relax after a hard day's work