English Meaning & Definitions
To become less tense, anxious, or formal; to rest or engage in an enjoyable activity.
- “After a long week at the office, I just want to relax on the sofa with a good book.”
- “The doctor advised him to relax and avoid stressful situations for a few weeks.”
To make a rule, restriction, or muscle less tight or strict.
- “The government decided to relax the travel restrictions as the pandemic subsided.”
- “Try to relax your shoulders and take a deep breath before you start the presentation.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “relax”.
Derived from the Middle French 'relaxer', which comes from the Latin 'relaxare', meaning 'to loosen again' or 'to slacken'. It is formed from the prefix 're-' (again) and 'laxare' (to loosen), which itself comes from the adjective 'laxus' (loose, wide, or spacious).
Think of 're-laxing' as 're-loosening' your muscles after a long day of tension.
Frequently Asked Questions About “relax”
1. What is the meaning of “relax” in English?
In English, relax (verb) is defined as: “To become less tense, anxious, or formal; to rest or engage in an enjoyable activity.”.
2. How do you use “relax” in a sentence?
“After a long week at the office, I just want to relax on the sofa with a good book.”
3. What are English synonyms of “relax”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “relax”?
Derived from the Middle French 'relaxer', which comes from the Latin 'relaxare', meaning 'to loosen again' or 'to slacken'. It is formed from the prefix 're-' (again) and 'laxare' (to loosen), which itself comes from the adjective 'laxus' (loose, wide, or spacious).
🇬🇧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.