{
    "term": "relax",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "relax",
            "heSheIt": "relaxes"
        },
        "pastSimple": "relaxed",
        "pastParticiple": "relaxed",
        "ingForm": "relaxing"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to rest while you are doing something that you enjoy, especially after work or effort",
            "sensetop": "relax with something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Just relax and enjoy the movie."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm going to spend the weekend just relaxing."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was relaxing at home, watching TV."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She finished her lunch and then relaxed in the sun."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The boys had been relaxing on the beach at their resort."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You need a little time to relax and unwind."
                },
                {
                    "text": "When I get home from work I like to relax with the newspaper.",
                    "contextForm": "relax with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sit back and relax with a cup of tea."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He gradually relaxed and began to enjoy himself."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was relaxing on the couch with a book."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Jenna relaxed against the pillows."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just relax and take it easy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just try to relax completely."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Use music to help you relax."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "unwind",
            "topics": ["Hobbies"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["completely", "fully", "totally"],
                "verb + relax": ["begin to", "try to", "learn to"],
                "preposition": ["against", "into", "on"],
                "phrases": [
                    "lie back and relax",
                    "sit back and relax",
                    "relax and enjoy something/​yourself"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to become or make somebody become calmer and less worried",
            "sensetop": "relax somebody",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'll only relax when I know you're safe."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can't relax until I've spoken to her myself."
                },
                {
                    "text": "'You need to try and relax,' Jane said."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Relax! Everything will be OK."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A herbal tea will relax you.",
                    "contextForm": "relax somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Julie seems to be relaxing a little now."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She instantly relaxed at the sight of him."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She realized how tense she was and consciously relaxed."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["completely", "fully", "totally"],
                "verb + relax": ["begin to", "try to", "learn to"],
                "preposition": ["against", "into", "on"],
                "phrases": [
                    "lie back and relax",
                    "sit back and relax",
                    "relax and enjoy something/​yourself"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to become or make something become less tight or stiff",
            "sensetop": "relax something",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Allow your muscles to relax completely."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The massage relaxed my tense back muscles.",
                    "contextForm": "relax something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He relaxed his grip on her arm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He closed his eyes and forced himself to relax his tensed body."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The dictator refuses to relax his grip on power."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His severe expression relaxed into a half-smile."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["completely", "fully", "totally"],
                "verb + relax": ["begin to", "try to", "learn to"],
                "preposition": ["against", "into", "on"],
                "phrases": [
                    "lie back and relax",
                    "sit back and relax",
                    "relax and enjoy something/​yourself"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to allow rules, laws, etc. to become less strict",
            "sensetop": "relax something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to relax rules/restrictions/regulations/requirements"
                },
                {
                    "text": "government plans to relax the licensing laws to allow round-the-clock drinking"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The council has relaxed the ban on dogs in city parks."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to allow your attention or effort to become weaker",
            "sensetop": "relax something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You cannot afford to relax your concentration for a moment."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæks/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relax__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæksɪz/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxes__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlækst/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxed__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxing__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæks/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relax__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæksɪz/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxes__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlækst/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxed__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/rɪˈlæksɪŋ/",
                "audio": "re/relax/relaxing__us_6.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Latin relaxare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’."
}