Relax Meaning
/ɹɪˈlæks/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo make something loose.
verbTo make something loose., To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
Sentence Examples
I want a massage. I need to relax.
Relax, and above all, don't panic.
Just relax and enjoy the movie.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After a long day, she likes to ____ by taking a warm bath.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She tried to ____ by taking a long bath and listening to calming music after the stressful day.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"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:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After a long day, she likes to ____ by taking a warm bath.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She tried to ____ by taking a long bath and listening to calming music after the stressful day.