What's the past tense of "wind"?
The simple past tense of wind is wound, and the past participle is wound. Use wound for both simple past tense and past participle forms.
Definition of wind
The Oxford English Dictionary defines wind as a verb meaning "to wrap or turn something around; to move in a way that curves or twists." As a noun, it refers to moving air. The verb wind is pronounced differently from the noun (like "whine-d" vs "wind").
- The past tense of wind is wound.
- The past participle of wind is wound.
Verb forms of 'wind'
Is "wind" a regular or irregular verb?
Note: Regular verbs end in -ed in the past tense. Any other verb ending is considered irregular.
The verb 'wind' is irregular because it doesn't follow the standard -ed pattern. It changes from 'wind' to 'wound' for both past tense and past participle forms, similar to other irregular verbs like find/found/found, bind/bound/bound, and grind/ground/ground.
When to use "wound" vs. "winded"
She wound the clock back an hour for daylight savings.
The stream winds through thick forest and brush.
The verb wind uses wound for both past tense and past participle forms. The word winded typically means to be out of breath: "I'm winded from that hike." It's important not to confuse the verb wind (meaning to wrap or curve) with being out of breath.
Similar irregular verbs
Like wind, these verbs follow the same pattern where the past tense and past participle are the same form.
Sentence examples: wind, wound
• Please wind the tape back to the beginning.
• The road winds up the mountain.
• A surviving network of 'packways' that wind through much of northern England.
• The man wound himself into the family life of some of the apprentices.
• The tape wound back with a short whining clatter.
• Wherever a river wound a valley.
• The clock had been wound every day by the caretaker.
• She has wound herself into the family dynamics.
• The tape has been wound back to the beginning.
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for wind
Nearby phrases
Quotes from literature and media
wind the tape back to the beginning, .. start it again and sing part two.
The tape winds back with a short whining clatter.
A surviving network of 'packways' that wind through much of northern England.
Wherever a river winds a valley.
The man wound himself into the family life of some of the apprentices.
Origin of the verb wind
From etymology online on wind (v.):
Old English windan "to turn, twist, wind," from Proto-Germanic *wendan- (source also of Old Saxon windan, Old Norse vinda, Old Frisian winda, Dutch winden, Old High German wintan, German winden, Gothic bi-windan "to wind"), from PIE root *wendh- "to turn, wind, weave."
Practice: "Wind" conjugations
She ______ the clock back an hour for daylight savings.
The stream ______ through thick forest and brush.
He had ______ the string around the spool.
The road ______ up the mountain.
The tape has been ______ back to the beginning.
FAQs
What is the past tense of wind?
Is it winded or wound?
How do you pronounce wound (past tense of wind)?
Is wind a regular or irregular verb?
What are some examples of wind vs wound?
Sources
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Oxford English Dictionary. "wind, v." OED Online. Oxford University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
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Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of wind." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/wind. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary. "Wind." Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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