Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

wind up

informal phrasal verb with wind
 
 
/waɪnd/ verb (wound, wound)

Definition

to find yourself in an unexpected and usually unpleasant situation, especially as a result of what you do: If he carries on like this he's going to wind up in prison! You don't want to wind up homeless, do you?Coming to an endCausing something to end
(Definition of wind up from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“wind up” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

gesticulate

to make movements with your hands or arms, to express something or to emphasize what you are saying

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More