relax

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈlæks/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
  2. verb make less taut
  3. verb become loose or looser or less tight

Etymology

From Middle English relaxen, from Old French relaxer, from Latin relaxāre (“relax, loosen, open”), from re- (“back”) + laxāre (“loosen”), from laxus (“loose, free”). By surface analysis, re- + lax (“open, free, loose”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

loosen up, unbend, unwind, decompress, slow down

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
change state
Narrower (hyponyms)
sit back, vege out
Opposite (antonyms)
tense

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