Definition

Adjective: 1. In a state of great tension, excitement, or agitation: Describes a person who is extremely nervous, anxious, or emotionally worked up. 2. Brought to a state of readiness or conclusion: Can describe something that has been fully prepared or finalized. (This meaning is less common for describing emotional states).

Usage

The adjective "wound up" is used to describe a person's emotional or mental state. It often implies that the tension is a result of external events or prolonged stress. It is typically used predicatively (after a linking verb like be, feel, get, seem).

Examples

• She was wound up before her big presentation.
• The constant noise from the construction site has left him feeling completely wound up.
• Don't get so wound up about the traffic; we have plenty of time.
• The children were too wound up to go to sleep after the party.

Advanced Usage

• "to wind someone up": This is the related phrasal verb from which the adjective originates. It means to deliberately annoy or tease someone until they become tense or angry.
  • He knows how to wind me up with his political comments.
• The phrase can sometimes be used in mechanical contexts to mean something is fully coiled or tightened, but this is less common in everyday language describing people.

Variants and Related Words

• Wind up (phrasal verb): To bring something to an end or conclusion.
  • We need to wind up the meeting by 5 PM.
  • He wound up living in a different country.
• Wound-up (hyphenated): An alternative spelling, especially common when used attributively before a noun (though this usage is rare).
  • A wound-up state of mind.

Synonyms

• Agitated
• Keyed up
• On edge
• Tense
• Worked up
• Anxious
• Uptight

Antonyms

• Relaxed
• Calm
• Unwound
• Composed
• Placid

Related Phrases

• All wound up: An intensified form, emphasizing the extreme state of tension.
  • The reference example states: "all wound up for a fight."

Adjective

1. brought to a state of great tension
   • all wound up for a fight