Phrasal verb
wind up
Meanings
to end up in a place, situation, or condition (often unexpectedly)
to finish or bring something to an end
to annoy or upset someone, often by teasing or deliberately provoking them
Definition
To wind up usually means to end up in a particular place, situation, or state, often unexpectedly.
When you wind up somewhere or in a situation, you finish there as the result of what happened before, sometimes by accident. It often emphasizes an unexpected final result rather than the steps in between. It can also mean to finish something or to make someone annoyed as a joke, depending on context.
Examples
- I missed my stop and wound up in the next town.
- You’ll wind up exhausted if you keep staying up this late.
- He wound up the meeting after answering a few last questions.
- She always winds her brother up by copying his voice.
- They wound up with extra chairs when more guests arrived than expected.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “wind up” (end up/finish/annoy) with “wind” meaning “turn” (as in winding a clock), so check the context.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.