Relaxed describes a state of being calm, comfortable, and free from tension or worry. When you're relaxed, your muscles aren't tight, your mind isn't racing, and you feel at ease. You might feel relaxed reading a favorite book on the couch, playing with a pet, or spending time with close friends who make you comfortable being yourself.

The word can describe both physical and mental states. After a hard week of school, you might spend Saturday morning feeling physically relaxed, sleeping in and stretching slowly. Or you might feel mentally relaxed knowing all your homework is finished and you have nothing to stress about.

Relaxed can also describe a person's general manner or personality. Someone with a relaxed attitude doesn't get worked up over small problems. They stay calm when things go wrong and don't make everything feel like an emergency. A relaxed teacher might let students chat quietly while working, while a stricter teacher demands total silence.

When rules or standards become less strict, we say they've been relaxed. If your parents relax their bedtime rule on weekends, they're making it less rigid. The opposite of relaxed is tense, anxious, or uptight.