Dictionary

relax en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɹɪˈlæks/
• (US) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make something loose.
   • to relax the muscles or sinews
   • to relax a rope or cord
   • Horror […] all his joynts relax'd. 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2. (dated, transitive) To make something loose. ▸ To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
   • An aperient relaxes the bowels.
3. (intransitive) To become loose.
4. (transitive) To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
   • Amusement relaxes the mind.
5. (intransitive) To rest and become relieved of stress.
   • I like to relax by listening to music.
   • I relax in the living room. 2016, “Let's Learn English level 1”, in VOA Learning English, archived from the original on 30 Sep 2017, Lesson 5: Where Are You?, public domain:
6. (transitive) To make something less severe or tense.
   • to relax one's attention or endeavours
   • to relax discipline
7. (intransitive) To become less severe or tense.
   • Tensions between the two countries have relaxed somewhat in recent weeks.
8. (transitive) To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
   • The statute of mortmain[…] was at several times relaxed by the legislature. 1713, Jonathan Swift, A Preface to Bishop Burnet's Introduction:
   • The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right." 1953, “Section 2. Jurisdiction”, in Edward Samuel Corwin, editor, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, page 589:
9. (intransitive, of codes and regulations) To become more lenient.

Forms

Antonyms

stress · excite

Deriveds

relaxative · relaxographic · relaxable · relaxometry · relaxion · relaxosome · prerelax · relaxography · relaxase · relaxin · underrelax · overrelax · relaxacon · chillax · unlax

Descendants

relaks · relaxen · relaksować · rilek · relaks · relaxen

Relateds

relaxation

Synonyms

chill out · expand · unwind

Translations (201)

be рассла́біцца ((intransitive) to become loose) · ja 緩める ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · de relaxen ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · de entspannen ((transitive) to make something loose) · pt relaxar ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · gl relaxarse ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · mi whakakorokoro ((transitive) to make something loose) · te సడలించు ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ja 緩和する ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · uk розслабля́тися ((intransitive) to become loose) · hu kipiheni magát ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ca afluixar ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ca afluixar-se ((intransitive) to become loose) · fi rentoutua ((intransitive) to become loose) · bg отпускам ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pl rozluźniać ((transitive) to make something loose) · mi whakanā ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · cy llacio ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru рассла́биться ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · cmn 緩和 /缓和 ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · bg смекчавам ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · de entspannen ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ru распусти́ть ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ja くつろがせる ((transitive) to make something loose) · de lockern ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · cy ymlacio ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ca relaxar ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · no slappe av ((transitive) to make something loose) · it rilassare ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · th ผ่อนคลาย ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru расслабля́ться ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · pl poluzowywać się ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl poluzować się ((intransitive) to become loose) · da falde til ro ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fi relata ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · es relajarse ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · cs uvolnit ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru смягча́ться ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · fi rentoutua ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ru распуска́ть ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pt soltar ((intransitive) to become loose) · pt relaxar ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · bg отпускам ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · it rilassarsi ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · io laxeskar ((intransitive) to become loose) · hu kikapcsolódik ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · es relajar ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru смягчи́ться ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · es relajar ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · fr relâcher ((transitive) to make something loose) · mi whakatangatanga ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru распуска́ться ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · cmn 缓和 ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ja 和らげる ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ru расслабля́ться ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl złagodzić ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · eo malstreĉiĝi ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl rozluźniać ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pt soltar ((transitive) to make something loose) · pl rozluźniać się ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · es relajar ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · sv slappna av ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl rozluźnić ((transitive) to make something loose) · ro relaxa ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · es reposarse ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ga lig do scíth ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · wa låtchî ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru рассла́биться ((intransitive) to become loose) · cmn 緩解 /缓解 ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · fr se détendre ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fi höllentyä ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · cmn 鬆開 /松开 ((transitive) to make something loose) · sv koppla av ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · pl odprężyć ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · hy հանգստանալ ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · th ลดหย่อน ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · fi löysätä ((transitive) to make something loose) · fi rauhoittua ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · bg разхлабвам се ((intransitive) to become loose) · ru расслабля́ть ((transitive) to make something loose) · ja 和らげる ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · pl rozluźnić się ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ko 늦추다 ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl złagodnieć ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · nl ontspannen ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · wa distinkyî ((transitive) to make something loose) · mi whakangoru ((transitive) to make something loose) · pl odprężać się ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ka ისვენებს ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · es relajar ((intransitive) to become loose) · uk розслабля́тися ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · pl zrelaksować się ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fi löystyä ((intransitive) to become loose) · ca relaxar-se ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · io laxigar ((transitive) to make something loose) · fr se relaxer ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ja 緩める ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · fi höllentää ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · nl ontspannen ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ja リラックスする ((intransitive) to become loose) · es relajar ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ja 緩和する ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · ja 落ち着かせる ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ja ほっとする ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · cmn 緩和 /缓和 ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ja 落ち着かせる ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · pt relaxar ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ja 緊張を解く ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · de lockern ((transitive) to make something loose) · es relajar ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · pl odprężać ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ru смягчи́ть ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · es relajarse ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ro relaxa ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · fi löysentää ((transitive) to make something loose) · pl poluzowywać ((transitive) to make something loose) · de lockern ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · de entspannen ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · da slappe af ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ru ослабля́ть ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ar اِسْتَرْخَى ((intransitive) to become loose) · ro relaxa ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pl rozluźnić ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · cmn 緩解 /缓解 ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · uk розсла́битися ((intransitive) to become loose) · pl poluzować ((transitive) to make something loose) · akk napāšum ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · sv slappna av ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ar اِسْتَرْخَى ((transitive) to make something loose) · pl poluzować ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pl odprężyć się ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ary طْلق ((transitive) to make something loose) · de sich entspannen ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fr se détendre ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ca relaxar ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · ro desface ((transitive) to make something loose) · wa laispi ((transitive) to make something loose) · cs uvolnit ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · ro destinde ((transitive) to make something loose) · cmn 鬆弛 /松弛 ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fi rauhoittua ((intransitive) to become loose) · ru расслабля́ть ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · cmn 放鬆 /放松 ((transitive) to make something loose) · ja 緊張を解く ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ro relaxa ((transitive) to make something loose) · ro relaxa ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · az dincəlmək ((intransitive) to become loose) · ca relaxar ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · pl zrelaksować ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · fi löyhentää ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · acw هِدي ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru рассла́бить ((transitive) to make something loose) · ca relaxar ((transitive) to make something loose) · cmn 緩和 /缓和 ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · eo senstreĉiĝi ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · nl ontspannen ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · pl poluzowywać ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · cy ymlacio ((intransitive) to become loose) · ru смягча́ть ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · pt afrouxar ((intransitive) to become loose) · ja くつろぐ ((intransitive) to become loose) · es estar de relax ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ca relaxar-se ((intransitive) to become loose) · ca afluixar ((transitive) to make something loose) · bg разхлабвам ((transitive) to make something loose) · fi rentoutua ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · uk послабля́ти ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · la relaxō ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru рассла́бить ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · pl łagodnieć ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · pl relaksować ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · bg отпускам се ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ko 편안히 하다 ((intransitive) to become loose) · gl relaxar ((transitive) to make something loose) · ca relaxar-se ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ca relaxar ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · mi whakatakupe ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · be расслабля́цца ((intransitive) to become loose) · ja リラックスする ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · la relaxō ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · uk розсла́битися ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · az istirahət etmək ((intransitive) to become loose) · cmn 放鬆下來 /放松下来 ((intransitive) to become loose) · th หย่อน ((intransitive) to become loose) · bg разпускам ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · de entspannen ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · fi rentouttaa ((transitive) to relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress) · ja 落ち着く ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · pl relaksować się ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · fi höllentää ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · nl losmaken ((transitive) to make something loose) · pt afrouxar ((transitive) to make something loose) · ru распусти́ться ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense) · ja 緊張を解く ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · el χαλαρώνω ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · es aflojar ((transitive) to make something loose) · it riposarsi ((intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress) · ru осла́бить ((transitive) to make something less severe or tense) · fi hölletä ((intransitive) to become more lenient) · pl łagodzić ((transitive) to make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient) · fi löystyä ((intransitive) to become less severe or tense)