winding down
Approaching its end
Winding down is the process of gradually reducing activity, intensity, or scale.
A business winds down operations before closing.
A party winds down as guests leave.
You wind down after work by relaxing: I need an hour to wind down before bed.
The phrase suggests a controlled, gradual decrease rather than an abrupt stop—like a mechanical device slowly losing momentum.
- subsidingDecreasing in intensity
- relaxingBecoming less tense
- cooling offGradual temperature reduction
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- decompressingReleasing built-up tension
take it easy · closure · petering out · wrap up · putting to bed · coming to a close · final stretch · deceleration · conclude · cessation · end of an era · receivership · lulling · ease · finish · last call · calming · coasting
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- relaxationrelax, naps, break, rest, calm
- bedtimesleeping, pajamas, napping, resting, bedtime story
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- decreasesreduction, decline, drop, fall, decrease
- endingsending, the end, finish, close, final
winding downramping up
Progressively increasing in scale
escalating · intensifying · building up · picking up · heating up
winding downstarting up
Beginning operation or activity
spinning up · launching · ramping up · kicking off · firing up
winding downgetting worked up
winding up · amping up · psyching up · getting pumped · revving up
down, wind, windy, winds, downs, winded, downer, unwinding, rewind