One mistake that I often notice students making is using ‘relax’ as a noun. In English, ‘relax’ is a verb, and the correct noun form is ‘relaxation’. How then do we use the forms ‘relaxed’ and ‘relaxing’? Read on to find the answer and learn more about this essential vocabulary.

Just Relax

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, ‘relax’ is a verb with five meanings:

1. (intransitive verb) to rest while you are doing something that you enjoy, especially after work or effort. For example, 1) I’m going to spend the weekend just relaxing. 2) He was relaxing at home, watching TV.
2. to become or make somebody become calmer and less worried. For example, 1) (intransitive verb) I’ll only relax when I know you’re safe. 2) (transitive verb) A herbal tea will relax you.
3. to become or make something become less tight or stiff. For example, 1) (intransitive verb) Allow your muscles to relax completely. 2) (transitive verb) The massage relaxed my tense back muscles.
4. (transitive verb) to allow rules, laws, etc. to become less strict. For example, The teacher decided to relax the deadline for the assignment due to unforeseen circumstances.
5. (transitive verb) to allow your attention or effort to become weaker. For example, You cannot afford to relax your concentration for a moment.

Relaxing vs. Relaxed

Both ‘relaxing’ and ‘relaxed’ come from the verb ‘relax,’ which has various meanings listed above. What’s the difference? ‘Relaxing’ describes something that helps you feel calm and less anxious, like a relaxing weekend with friends, a relaxing cup of tea, or a relaxing bath. On the other hand, ‘relaxed’ describes a person who is calm and not worried: She looked completely relaxed.

Note that relaxed has a few additional meanings:

1. (of a place) calm and informal: This is a family-run hotel with a relaxed atmosphere.
2. not caring too much about discipline or making people follow rules: She’s pretty relaxed about her children’s viewing habits.

Let’s practice! Click the link here and choose the right word to complete the sentences: ‘relax’, or ‘relaxing.’

Relaxation

Finally, we’ve come to the (usually uncountable) noun ‘relaxation,’ which, like the verb ‘relax,’ has a few meanings:

1. a way of resting and enjoying yourself; time spent resting and enjoying yourself. For example, I go hill-walking for relaxation.
2. the state of feeling calm and not anxious or worried: Some people take up yoga to aid relaxation.
3. the fact of a part of the body, especially a muscle, becoming less tight: Massage therapy promotes relaxation of the muscles.
4. the act of making a rule or some form of control less strict or severe (this meaning of ‘relaxation’ is countable, singular): The government announced a relaxation of visa requirements to encourage tourism and business opportunities.

Practice

Now it’s time to practice using all the words today’s post focuses on: relax (in various verb forms), relaxing, relaxed, and relaxation.

Click the link here and complete the text with the right word.

How did you find the exercises? If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments below. We look forward to hearing from you! Until the next post!