What does windup mean?
Windup most often means the preliminary sequence of events that leads to a main event. It is especially familiar in sports, where a pitcher's windup is the controlled series of movements performed before delivering a ball, but it can also describe a gradual buildup to a speech, competition, decision, or other event. The noun may additionally refer to the act of winding a mechanism. As the phrasal verb wind up, the word has several distinct uses: it can mean that an activity reaches its conclusion, that thread or another flexible material is twisted into a compact bundle, that an engine is started, or that a person becomes tense or agitated. In informal British English, winding someone up means teasing or irritating them. These related meanings all reflect the idea of turning, tightening, preparing, or bringing something to a close. Windup is therefore useful for discussing both the visible preparation preceding an important moment and the mechanical or figurative process of tightening something.
A preliminary sequence of actions leading to a main event, especially a pitcher's preparatory motion before throwing a ball; less commonly, the act of winding a mechanism.
"The crowd waited through a long windup before the opening ceremony began."
The spelling “wind-up” is common, particularly in attributive use.
To bring an activity or process to a close; twist something into a compact form; make someone tense; start an engine; or, in informal British usage, tease or irritate someone.
"After the final argument, the committee wound up its discussion and announced a decision."
The phrasal verb is normally written as two words. The teasing sense is chiefly British and informal.
Operated or operated by a mechanism that must be wound by hand or by a winding control.
"They wound the small wind-up alarm clock before going to bed."
Usually written “wind-up” when used attributively.
The plural is used for separate preliminary sequences, especially distinct pitchers' motions.
"The two pitchers had noticeably different windups."
In baseball, the windup is the pitcher's visible countdown before the ball leaves the hand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does windup come from?
The core verb wind, meaning to turn or twist, comes through Middle English from Old English windan; the particle up adds a directional or completive sense to the phrasal verb. German winden, Dutch winden, and Swedish vinda are related Germanic words with the same ancient ancestry. The modern noun and adjective developed as English compounds on this inherited verb.
Related word forms
How windup is actually used
The noun is often written “wind-up” in careful house style, especially before another noun, while the phrasal verb is normally written as two words: “wind up.” The teasing or irritating sense is chiefly British and informal.
Easily confused with windup
Winding is the act of twisting or turning something around, whereas a windup usually means a preliminary sequence leading to a main event.
A windup precedes and builds toward an event, while a wrap-up concludes or summarizes it.