Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wind up

/waɪnd ˈʌp/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.83 in modern English

Syllables: wind up
IPA: /waɪnd ˈʌp/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Alternative form of wind-up.

verb

To wind (rope, string, mainsprings, etc.) completely.

Transitive verb

verb

To put (a clock, watch, etc.) in a state of renewed or continued motion by winding the spring or other energy-storage mechanism.

Transitive verb

verb

To tighten (someone or something) by winding or twisting.

Transitive verb

verb

Transitive verb

verb

To upset; to anger or distress.

Transitive verb

verb

To roll up (a car window or well bucket, etc., by cranking).

Transitive verb

verb

To end up; to arrive or result.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"I wound up the spool of rope."
"I wound up the clock."
"Your pocket watch will run for a long time if you wind up the spring all the way."
"Their feet padded softly on the ground, and they crept quite close to him, twitching their noses, while the Rabbit stared hard to see which side the clockwork stuck out, for he knew that people who jump generally have something to wind them up. But he couldn't see it. They were evidently a new kind of rabbit altogether."
"The movie wound me up emotionally."
"Try not to wind up the kids too much right before bedtime."

Usage

Inflected Forms

wind ups (plural) winds up (present, singular) winding up (participle, present) wound up (participle, past) wound up (past)

Derived Forms

windup

Phrases

snitches get stitches and wind up in ditches wind-up wind up one's bottoms wind-up radio

Frequently Paired Words

wind down

Synonyms

bind cinch brace clench constrict squeeze tighten taughten tauten tense gin up stimulate

Antonyms

unwind unspool play out wind down roll down lower start out

Questions

How do you pronounce wind up?: The recorded pronunciation is /waɪnd ˈʌp/.
What does wind up mean?: Alternative form of wind-up.

How to pronounce wind up

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wind up”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/waɪnd ˈʌp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “wind up”.
Repeat and practice — Say “wind up” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.