English Meaning & Definitions
To relieve or reduce physical pressure, or to undergo a gradual reduction in air or water pressure.
- “Deep-sea divers must decompress slowly as they return to the surface to prevent decompression sickness.”
- “The surgeon performed a procedure to decompress the nerve in the patient's wrist.”
To restore compressed digital data or files to their original, uncompressed state.
- “You will need to decompress the downloaded folder before you can run the application.”
- “The software automatically decompresses video files during playback.”
To relax and release emotional or mental tension, especially after a period of intense work or stress.
- “After a hectic day at the office, she likes to decompress by taking a long walk in the park.”
- “I need a quiet weekend to decompress before starting my new job next week.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “decompress”.
Formed by combining the prefix 'de-' (indicating reversal or removal) with the verb 'compress' (derived from Latin 'compressare', meaning 'to press together'). Originally used in the early 20th century in reference to physical pressure (such as deep-sea diving), it later expanded to computing (expanding data) and colloquial psychology (relaxing from stress).
Think of 'de-' as 'undoing' the 'compress'ion—whether it is physical pressure, a zipped computer file, or mental stress.
Frequently Asked Questions About “decompress”
1. What is the meaning of “decompress” in English?
In English, decompress (verb) is defined as: “To relieve or reduce physical pressure, or to undergo a gradual reduction in air or water pressure.”.
2. How do you use “decompress” in a sentence?
“Deep-sea divers must decompress slowly as they return to the surface to prevent decompression sickness.”
3. What are English synonyms of “decompress”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “decompress”?
Formed by combining the prefix 'de-' (indicating reversal or removal) with the verb 'compress' (derived from Latin 'compressare', meaning 'to press together'). Originally used in the early 20th century in reference to physical pressure (such as deep-sea diving), it later expanded to computing (expanding data) and colloquial psychology (relaxing from stress).
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.