# relax

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈlæks/ · frequency rank #4,403

## Definitions
1. To make something loose.
2. To make something loose.
3. To become loose.
4. To relieve (someone or someone's mind) of stress; to enable to rest; to calm down.
5. To rest and become relieved of stress.
6. To make something less severe or tense.
7. To become less severe or tense.
8. To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
9. To become more lenient.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **rex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-rex)
- **rely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-rely)
- **Reza** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-reza)
- **remix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-remix)
- **relay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-relay)
- **repay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-repay)
- **renal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-renal)
- **relic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-relic)
- **Rolex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-rolex)
- **replay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-replay)
- **reload** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-reload)
- **relaxed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relax-vs-relaxed)
- **Rea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rea-vs-relax)
- **rel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rel-vs-relax)
- **real** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-relax)
- **read** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/read-vs-relax)
- **rear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rear-vs-relax)
- **reap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reap-vs-relax)
- **rehab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rehab-vs-relax)
- **recap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recap-vs-relax)

## Common misspellings (7)
`erlax`, `realx`, `relaxx`, `rellax`, `relxa`, `rleax`, `rrelax`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/relax