relaxed

IPA/rɪˈlækst/
KK[rɪlˈækst]IPA/rɪˈlækst/

relaxed — adjective

  • relaxedpositive
  • more relaxedcomparative
  • most relaxedsuperlative

1. feeling peaceful and free from stress or worry, so that your body and mind are a

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

feeling peaceful and free from stress or worry, so that your body and mind are at ease.

Example

After finishing her exams, Sana felt relaxed for the first time in weeks.

A warm bath after a long day helps Gabriel feel relaxed and ready for sleep.

collocation: feel relaxed

Common collocations
  • feel relaxed
  • look relaxed
  • stay relaxed
  • seem relaxed
Synonyms
  • calm

    more neutral and general; does not always imply a prior state of tension

  • at ease

    slightly more formal; suggests comfort in a social situation

  • laid-back

    informal; describes a person's general character rather than a temporary mood

Antonyms
  • stressed

    the most direct opposite; feeling mental or emotional strain

  • tense

    suggests physical tightness and mental alertness due to worry

  • anxious

    implies nervousness about an uncertain outcome

Common Mistakes

The massage was very relaxed.
The massage was very relaxing.
'Relaxed' describes how you feel; 'relaxing' describes something that causes you to feel that way.
I feel relax after yoga.
I feel relaxed after yoga.
'Relax' is a verb; the adjective form after linking verbs like 'feel' is 'relaxed.'

2. not feeling or showing concern about a particular situation or issue, even when

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

not feeling or showing concern about a particular situation or issue, even when others might expect you to be worried.

Example

The teacher was surprisingly relaxed about the students turning in their papers late.

be relaxed about + [issue]

Noor's parents are very relaxed about her choosing her own career path.

Common collocations
  • relaxed about
  • relaxed attitude
  • completely relaxed
  • surprisingly relaxed
Synonyms
  • easygoing

    describes a personality trait rather than an attitude about a specific issue

  • carefree

    implies a lighter, less serious attitude; can sound more positive

  • laid-back

    informal; similar to 'easygoing' but slightly more casual

Antonyms
  • worried

    the most direct opposite; feeling troubled about something

  • concerned

    less intense than worried; implies thoughtful attention to an issue

Grammar Patterns

be relaxed about + [something]

Usage Note

Commonly used in the pattern 'be relaxed about + noun/gerund.' This sense describes an attitude toward a specific thing, unlike sense 1 (FEELING CALM), which describes a general emotional state.

Common Mistakes

I am relaxed of the test results.
I am relaxed about the test results.
The correct preposition after 'relaxed' in this sense is 'about,' not 'of.'

3. describing a place, situation, or event where people feel at ease because the ru

3.adjectiveA2
Definition

describing a place, situation, or event where people feel at ease because the rules are not strict and the mood is friendly and calm.

Example

The café has a relaxed atmosphere where customers can sit and read for hours.

collocation: relaxed atmosphere

Shanti's birthday party was a relaxed gathering with just a few close friends.

relaxed gathering

Common collocations
  • relaxed atmosphere
  • relaxed setting
  • relaxed gathering
  • relaxed dress code
  • relaxed tone
Synonyms
  • informal

    focuses on absence of strict rules rather than emotional comfort

  • casual

    emphasises a lack of formality in dress, behaviour, or atmosphere

  • easygoing

    can describe a place or situation, though more commonly used for people

Antonyms
  • formal

    the most direct opposite; following strict rules and customs

  • stiff

    negative connotation; suggests unnatural formality that makes people uncomfortable

4. describing a film, play, or performance event that has been adapted to welcome a

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a film, play, or performance event that has been adapted to welcome audience members with autism, sensory sensitivities, or conditions that make it hard to attend traditional shows.

Example

The cinema offers relaxed screenings with dim lights and lower sound.

relaxed screening (sensory-friendly event)

Sirin took her brother to a relaxed performance where people could leave whenever needed.

Common collocations
  • relaxed screening
  • relaxed performance
  • relaxed show
  • relaxed concert
  • relaxed film showing
Synonyms
  • sensory-friendly

    the more common term in American English; more explicit about the type of adaptation

  • autism-friendly

    narrower; specifically refers to accommodations for autistic people

Usage Note

This is a specialised modern usage from the accessibility and inclusion movement. The term 'relaxed screening' or 'relaxed performance' is the standard phrase in the UK and Australia. In the US, 'sensory-friendly screening' is more common.

Common Mistakes

The theatre offered a relaxed screening where the rules were not strict.' (vague)
The theatre offered a relaxed screening where audience members could move and make noise freely.
Clarify the specific accommodations rather than using vague language.

5. describing hair that naturally has curls or waves but has been treated with chem

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing hair that naturally has curls or waves but has been treated with chemicals so that it lies flat and loses its curl.

Example

Theo decided to get relaxed hair for the summer because it was easier to manage.

The hairdresser explained that relaxed hair needs special care to stay healthy.

collocation: relaxed hair

Common collocations
  • relaxed hair
  • relaxed treatment
  • get hair relaxed
  • relaxed hair care
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • natural

    in the context of hair, refers to hair that has not been chemically treated

Usage Note

This sense is used as a noun modifier before 'hair' ('relaxed hair') and as a predicate ('Her hair is relaxed'). It is an industry term in hairdressing and does NOT describe hair that naturally looks calm or smooth — it always implies a chemical process.

Common Mistakes

I brushed my hair until it looked relaxed.
I got my hair relaxed at the salon.
'Relaxed hair' refers specifically to chemically straightened hair, not to the natural appearance of hair.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a state without stress, but they differ in scope and register. 'Calm' is the most general term — it describes an even, untroubled state of mind that can be either temporary ('She stayed calm during the earthquake') or permanent ('He has a calm nature'). 'At ease' is slightly more formal and often implies comfort in a social context ('The friendly host made the guests feel at ease'). 'Laid-back' is informal and typically refers to a person's habitual character rather than a temporary mood ('He is a laid-back person who never gets upset about delays'). 'Carefree' suggests a lighthearted, worry-free attitude that can feel either positive ('a carefree summer afternoon') or slightly irresponsible ('She was too carefree about her deadlines'). For describing the specific feeling of being unworried after a period of tension, 'relaxed' is the most direct and natural choice.

calm ↗at easelaid-back ↗carefree ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • relaxed atmosphere
  • relaxed attitude
  • relaxed pace
  • relaxed dress code

Adverbs

  • completely relaxed
  • totally relaxed
  • perfectly relaxed
  • surprisingly relaxed
  • visibly relaxed

Phrases

  • feel relaxed
  • look relaxed
  • stay relaxed
  • relaxed and happy

Prepositions

  • relaxed about [something]
  • relaxed with [someone]

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'relaxed' comes from the Latin verb 'relaxare', which means 'to loosen' or 'to stretch out'. This Latin word is formed from two parts: 're-' (meaning 'back' or 'again') and 'laxare' (meaning 'to loosen'). The verb 'relax' entered English through Old French in the 14th century, originally meaning 'to make less tight or firm'. By the 17th century, English speakers were using 'relaxed' as an adjective to describe people who were free from tension or strain. In the 20th century, the word developed specialized meanings in hairdressing and, more recently, in the context of accessible performances for people with sensory sensitivities.