English verb: relax | |||
1. | relax (body) become less tense, rest, or take one's ease | ||
Samples | He relaxed in the hot tub. Let's all relax after a hard day's work. | ||
Examples | Sam and Sue relax | ||
Synonyms | decompress, loosen up, slow down, unbend, unwind | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody's (body part) ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change state, turn | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | sit back, take it easy, vege out, vegetate | ||
Antonyms | tense up, tense | ||
2. | relax (change) make less taut | ||
Samples | Relax the tension on the rope. | ||
Synonyms | unbend | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | loose, loosen | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | unbrace | ||
3. | relax (change) become loose or looser or less tight | ||
Samples | The noose loosened. The rope relaxed. | ||
Synonyms | loose, loosen | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | weaken | ||
Antonyms | stiffen | ||
4. | relax (body) cause to feel relaxed | ||
Samples | A hot bath always relaxes me. | ||
Examples | The performance is likely to relax Sue | ||
Synonyms | loosen up, make relaxed, unlax, unstrain, unwind | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | affect | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | unbend | ||
Cause | decompress, loosen up, relax, slow down, unbend, unwind | ||
Antonyms | tense up, tense, strain | ||
5. | relax (social) become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner | ||
Samples | Our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group. | ||
Synonyms | loosen up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | act, behave, do | ||
6. | relax (social) make less severe or strict | ||
Samples | The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught. | ||
Synonyms | loosen | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Verb group | loosen, relax | ||
7. | relax (social) become less severe or strict | ||
Samples | The rules relaxed after the new director arrived. | ||
Synonyms | loosen | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Verb group | loosen, relax | ||
8. | relax (change) make less active or fast | ||
Samples | He slackened his pace as he got tired. Don't relax your efforts now. | ||
Synonyms | slack, slack up, slacken | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | decrease, lessen, minify | ||