Wind up Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Published on April 18, 2025
Wind up means to bring something to a conclusion or to come to an end. It can also refer to the act of tightening the spring of a mechanical device by turning a knob. e.g., The meeting finally wound up at 10 p.m.
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Wind up Definitions
To arrive at a conclusion or final point.
The detective wound up solving the mystery.
To summarize or make a final statement.
He wound up his speech with a quote.
To coil or wrap something around an object.
Wind up the hose after you finish watering the garden.
To end the operation or existence of, especially by legal means (such as a company).
The company was wound up after 50 years of operation.
To conclude or finish something.
The event wound up earlier than expected.
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To end up in a particular place or situation.
After all the changes, we wound up moving to a different city.
To tighten the spring of a clock or other mechanical device.
She winds up her grandfather clock every Sunday.
To prepare or get ready for an action.
The pitcher winds up before throwing the ball.
To cause to become agitated or excited.
His teasing always winds up his sister.
The act of bringing something to an end.
A concluding part; a conclusion.
(Baseball) The series of movements of a pitcher, including the swinging back of the arm and the raising of the forward foot, preparatory to pitching the ball. A wind-up is usually used when there are no base runners or when the bases are loaded.
Operated by a spring that is wound up by hand.
The end or conclusion of something.
Everyone is invited to our end-of-term wind-up party.
The punch line of a joke or comedy routine.
(British) A humorous attempt to fool somebody; a practical joke in which the victim is encouraged to believe something untrue.
(baseball) The phase of making a pitch where the pitcher moves his or her arm backwards before throwing the ball.
(television) A circular hand gesture, supposed to represent the winding on of film, used to signal to a performer to finish quickly.
(of a machine) Needing to be wound up in order to function.
Act of winding up, or closing; a concluding act or part; the end.
To settle or resolve a business or affair.
They wound up the estate matters smoothly.
Wind up Snonyms
Finalize
To complete the last part of a plan or project.
We need to finalize the details of the agreement.
Terminate
To bring to an end.
The contract was terminated early by mutual consent.
Cease
To come to an end.
The rain ceased and the sun came out.
Complete
To finish making or doing.
She completed the marathon despite the injury.
Resolve
To find a solution to a problem or situation.
The dispute was finally resolved amicably.
Settle
To resolve or reach an agreement.
They settled their differences and shook hands.
Conclude
To bring something to an end.
The conference will conclude with a panel discussion.
Close
To end an activity or event.
The shop closes at 9 PM.
Culminate
To reach the highest point or final stage.
The evening culminated in a spectacular fireworks display.
Wind up Idioms & Phrases
Wind up tight
To become very anxious or stressed.
He winds up tight before every exam.
Wind up doing something
To eventually do something, often unexpectedly.
I wound up doing all the work myself.
Don't wind up the clock
A metaphorical caution against overdoing or stressing something unnecessarily.
Don't wind up the clock on this issue; it's not that serious.
Wind up at the end
To conclude or end up at a final point.
All our efforts wind up at the end of the project review.
Wind up with
To end up having or holding something.
If you're not careful, you'll wind up with nothing.
Wind up the window
To close the car window (primarily in regions where "wind" is used instead of "roll").
Wind up the window; it's getting cold.
Wind up somewhere
To unexpectedly find oneself in a place or situation.
We took a wrong turn and wound up in a different town.
Wind up Example Sentences
He really knows how to wind up his opponents during debates.
Let me wind up the story quickly; it's getting late.
They are planning to wind up the company due to financial difficulties.
Don't forget to wind up your watch tonight.
I always wind up my headphones to prevent them from tangling.
Make sure to wind up the cables before storing them.
I didn't expect to wind up here, but I'm happy I did.
Common Curiosities
How is "wind up" used in a sentence?
"Wind up" can be used to describe the action of concluding something or the act of winding a mechanism. e.g., She decided to wind up the meeting early.
What is the root word of "wind up"?
The root word of "wind up" is "wind," referring to the action of turning or twisting something.
What is the second form of "wind up"?
The second form of "wind up" is "wound up," referring to the past tense and past participle form.
What is the opposite of "wind up"?
The opposite of "wind up" could be "start" or "begin," depending on the context.
What part of speech is "wind up"?
"Wind up" is a phrasal verb, a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb that creates a meaning different from the original verb.
How do we divide "wind up" into syllables?
"Wind up" is divided into syllables as "wind" and "up".
What is the verb form of "wind up"?
"Wind up" is itself a phrasal verb, consisting of the verb "wind" combined with the preposition "up."
What is a stressed syllable in "wind up"?
In "wind up," the stress is usually on the first syllable: "WIND."
What is the pronunciation of "wind up"?
"Wind up" is pronounced as /ˈwaɪnd ʌp/.
What is the singular form of "wind up"?
"Wind up" does not have a singular or plural form, as it is a phrasal verb and not a noun.
What is the first form of "wind up"?
The first form of "wind up" is "wind," as in to wind a mechanism.
What is the third form of "wind up"?
The third form of "wind up" is also "wound up," used as the past participle form.
Is "wind up" an adverb?
No, "wind up" is not an adverb; it is a phrasal verb.
Is "wind up" a negative or positive word?
"Wind up" can be neutral, positive, or negative depending on the context in which it is used.
Is "wind up" a vowel or consonant?
"Wind up" is a phrase consisting of both vowels and consonants.
Which preposition is used with "wind up"?
"Up" is the preposition used in the phrasal verb "wind up."
Is "wind up" an abstract noun?
No, "wind up" is not a noun at all; it is a phrasal verb.
Is "wind up" a countable noun?
"Wind up" is not a noun; it is a phrasal verb, so it does not have a countable form.
Is "wind up" a collective noun?
No, "wind up" is a phrasal verb and not a noun.
Is the word “wind up” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Wind up" is neither a direct object nor an indirect object; it is a verb phrase.
Which determiner is used with "wind up"?
Determiners are not typically used with "wind up" as it is a verb phrase, not a noun.
Which article is used with "wind up"?
As "wind up" is a verb phrase, articles (a, an, the) are not typically used with it.
Is "wind up" a noun or adjective?
"Wind up" is neither a noun nor an adjective; it is a phrasal verb.
Is the "wind up" term a metaphor?
Yes, "wind up" can be used metaphorically to mean to conclude or finish something.
Is the word "wind up" imperative?
"Wind up" can be used in an imperative form, as in giving a command or instruction.
Which vowel is used before "wind up"?
The vowel used before "wind up" can vary depending on the sentence structure.
Which conjunction is used with "wind up"?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "wind up" in a sentence to connect clauses.
What is another term for "wind up"?
Another term for "wind up" could be "conclude" or "finalize," depending on the context.
What is the plural form of "wind up"?
As a phrasal verb, "wind up" does not have a plural form.
Is the word "wind up" Gerund?
No, "wind up" is not a gerund; it is a phrasal verb.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
