What does relaxation mean?
Word: Relaxation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Relaxation means a state of ease and quiet after work or worry; also the easing of a rule or limit.
Synonyms: rest, ease, calm, leisure
Antonyms: stress, strain
How do you spell relaxation?
Syllables: re - lax - a - tion
Tricky part: The x is followed straight away by ation. Students add an s after the x (relaxsation) or drop the a and write relaxtion.
Watch out for: relaxsation, relaxtion, relaxasion
Memory tip: The x already gives you the ks sound, so it needs no s beside it; picture an x lying back alone in a deckchair.
Relaxation in a sentence
Example 1: Listening to old jazz records is my mother's favourite relaxation.
Example 2: The library allowed a relaxation of its borrowing limit during the holidays.
Example 3: After the match the players stretched for relaxation before going home.
Fun Fact
Muscles can only pull, never push. Each one shortens to move a bone and lengthens again in relaxation, so most joints have muscles in pairs that take turns.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. relaxation 2. recreation 3. exhileration 4. leisure
a) unwinding after effort or stress
b) games and hobbies enjoyed in free time
c) a feeling of great excitement and joy
d) time when you are free from work
Show answer
c) a feeling of great excitement and joy. Word 3 has an e where the dictionary wants an a; the other three need no change.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
r_l_xation
a) e, e
b) e, a
c) a, a
d) i, a
Show answer
b) e, a. The first gap takes the e of the opening re, and the second the a you hear in lax.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word relaxation as used in the sentence:
Yoga and slow breathing helped Grandma find relaxation after a long day in the shop.
a) comfort
b) music
c) sleep
d) tension
Show answer
d) tension. Tension is the tight, worried feeling that relaxation takes away.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
For Grandma, an evening of old songs on the radio is pure lexantiora.
a) exaltation
b) relaxation
c) relation
d) realisation
Show answer
b) relaxation. Relation is two letters short, realisation needs an s, and exaltation wants a second t; only relaxation uses all ten.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A relaxation of the school uniform rule means the rule has become ____.
a) much older
b) newly written
c) less strict
d) more strict
Show answer
c) less strict
2. Which Sunday plan sounds most like relaxation?
a) running for a bus in the rain
b) rushing to finish homework
c) queueing for hours at a bank
d) reading in a hammock on a Sunday
Show answer
d) reading in a hammock on a Sunday
