wind up

To finally be in a place or situation, often without planning it.

• You could wind up lost.
• We wound up eating at home.
• How did you wind up in this town?

How to use it: wind up + adjective (They might wind up disappointed.); wind up doing something (We wound up spending the night there.); wind up in/at somewhere (He wound up in hospital.)

Similar words: end up, finish up

Common phrases: wind up somewhere, wind up broke, wind up alone

To turn a key or handle so a clock, watch, or toy stores power and works.

• You need to wind up this clock.
• She wound the toy up and let it walk.
• Have you wound up your watch today?

How to use it: wind something up (Wind the clock up every morning.)

Similar words: wind

Common phrases: wind up a clock, wind up a toy, wind up something

To make someone very excited and full of energy.

• Do not wind up the children.
• The music wound everyone up before the party.
• You have wound him up, and now he cannot sleep.

How to use it: wind someone up (That noisy game always winds the children up.)

Similar words: excite, get excited

Opposites: calm

Common phrases: wind someone up, wind up children

To wrap all of a length of string, rope, or similar material around something.

• Wind up the loose string.
• She wound up the cable before packing it away.
• Can you wind the rope up onto this reel?

How to use it: wind something up (He wound the loose cable up.); wind something up onto something (Wind the thread up onto the spool.)

Similar words: coil up, reel in

Opposites: unwind

Common phrases: wind up rope, wind up cable, wind up something

To raise something by turning a handle, especially a car window.

• Wind up the window, please.
• He wound the bucket up from the well.
• Can you wind your window up a little?

How to use it: wind something up (Please wind your window up before we leave.)

Similar words: roll up, raise

Opposites: lower

Common phrases: wind up a window, wind up something

To make something tighter by turning it, or make someone feel tense.

• Wind up the spring until it is tight.
• The tense film wound me up emotionally.
• All that waiting has really wound her up.

How to use it: wind someone/something up (The suspense wound me up until I could hardly sit still.)

Similar words: tighten, make tense

Opposites: relax, loosen

Common phrases: wind someone up, wind up a spring, wind up something