1
a
: the act of bringing to an end
b
: a concluding act or part : finish
2
a
: a series of regular and distinctive motions (such as swinging the arms) made by a pitcher preparatory to releasing a pitch
b
: an exaggerated backswing (as in tennis)
: operated by a spring mechanism wound by hand
wound up also winded up; winding up; winds up
1
: to bring to a conclusion : end
2
a
: to put in order for the purpose of bringing to an end
winds up the meeting
b
British
: to effectuate the winding up of
1
a
: to come to a conclusion
b
: to arrive in a place, situation, or condition at the end or as a result of a course of action
wound up as millionaires
2
: to make a pitching windup
Synonyms
Examples of windup in a Sentence
Noun
the windup of the negotiations
He went into the windup, then threw the pitch.
a pitcher with an unusual windup
Her brother's act was just a wind-up to get her angry.
Adjective
She has an old windup record player in her attic.
Verb
try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time
her speeches usually wind up with one last joke
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
This movie is part high school reunion, beloved characters finally reunited, part formulaic windup.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Advertisement The right-hander, who was pitching independent-league ball in 2022, struck out Shohei Ohtani twice, punctuating his 60-pitch outing with a full windup and violent fist pump after whiffing the Dodgers slugger and National League home run leader with an 82-mph sweeper to end the fifth.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024
Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
This time around, that impulsivity might wind up thwarting, rather than empowering, the more extreme factions on his team.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for windup 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Fernando Valenzuela’s famous windup involved rotating his slender legs and broad, burly chest, eyes gazing to the heavens.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
This movie is part high school reunion, beloved characters finally reunited, part formulaic windup.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Instead, what’s most substantial about the movie is reduced to an elaborate windup toy, a mechanism of mere spectacle.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Advertisement The right-hander, who was pitching independent-league ball in 2022, struck out Shohei Ohtani twice, punctuating his 60-pitch outing with a full windup and violent fist pump after whiffing the Dodgers slugger and National League home run leader with an 82-mph sweeper to end the fifth.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024
Verb
Mendoza, coming off a 385-yard passing performance in the Bears’ 46-36 win over Wake Forest, wound up 22 for 34 for 225 yards.
—Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
This time around, that impulsivity might wind up thwarting, rather than empowering, the more extreme factions on his team.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for windup
Dictionary Entries Near windup
Cite this Entry
“Windup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windup. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
windup
2 of 3 adjective
: having a spring wound by hand
windup toys
wind up
3 of 3 verb(ˈ)wīn-ˈdəp
1
: to bring or come to a conclusion : end
let's wind up the meeting quickly
2
: to arrive in a place, situation, or state
wound up losing the game
wound up as millionaires
3
: to make a windup in pitching a baseball
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share