relax

Meanings

• become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
  • "He relaxed in the hot tub"
  • "Let's all relax after a hard day's work"
• make less taut
  • "relax the tension on the rope"
• become loose or looser or less tight
  • "the rope relaxed"
• cause to feel relaxed
  • "A hot bath always relaxes me"
• become less tense, less formal, or less restrained, and assume a friendlier manner
  • "our new colleague relaxed when he saw that we were a friendly group"
• make less severe or strict
  • "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"
• become less severe or strict
  • "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"
• make less active or fast
  • "Don't relax your efforts now"

Synonyms

decompress, loose, loosen, loosen up, make relaxed, slack, slack up, slacken, slow down, unbend, unlax, unstrain, unwind