de-stress
/ˌdiː ˈstres/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdiː ˈstres/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdē-ˈstres/ (ame, mw)
de-stress — verb
- de-stresspresent simple I / you / we / they
- de-stresseshe / she / it
- de-stressedpast simple
- de-stressing-ing form
1. to let your body and mind calm down after a period of pressure or worry, often b
to let your body and mind calm down after a period of pressure or worry, often by doing something quiet or enjoyable that pulls your attention away from the cause of the tension.
Sade likes to de-stress after work by walking her dog in the park.
de-stress + by + verb-ing for a chosen activity
A long hot bath helps Felix de-stress at the end of a busy week.
subject is the activity that causes the relaxation
Anjali went hiking in the mountains for the weekend to de-stress before her final exams.
The yoga teacher told the class to breathe slowly and de-stress.
Mateo and Rin spent Sunday cooking together as a way to de-stress.
- unwind
very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech
- relax
broader; can also describe loosening muscles, not just relieving tension
- decompress
more figurative; emphasises a transition after intense focus
- chill out
informal; suggests becoming calm rather than actively releasing pressure
- tense up
to become physically or mentally tight from worry
文法句型
de-stress + by + verb-ing
de-stress + after + noun
用法筆記
Subject is the person who is unwinding (intransitive). Frequently followed by 'by + verb-ing' to name the activity, or 'after / before + noun' to name the trigger. Avoid using it transitively with a person as object — say 'help someone de-stress', not 'de-stress someone'.