repose
1 Americannoun
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the state of resting or being at rest; sleep.
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peace; tranquility; calm.
rare moments of utter repose.
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dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.
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absence of movement, animation, etc..
When in repose, her face recalls the Mona Lisa.
verb (used without object)
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to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.
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to lie dead.
His body will repose in the chapel for two days.
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to be peacefully calm and quiet.
The sea reposed under the tropical sun.
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to lie or rest on something.
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Archaic. to depend or rely on a person or thing.
verb (used with object)
verb (used with object)
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to put (confidence, trust, etc.) in a person or thing.
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to put under the authority or at the disposal of a person.
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Archaic. to deposit.
noun
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a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity
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dignified calmness of manner; composure
verb
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to place (oneself or one's body) in a state of quiet relaxation; lie or lay down at rest
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(intr) to lie when dead, as in the grave
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formal (intr; foll by on, in, etc) to take support (from) or be based (on)
your plan reposes on a fallacy
verb
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to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing
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to place or put (an object) somewhere
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of repose1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb reposen, from Middle French reposer, Old French, from Late Latin repausāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + Late Latin pausāre “to rest” (derivative of Latin pausa pause )
Origin of repose2
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reposen “to replace,” influenced by Latin reposuisse “to have put back,” perfect infinitive of repōnere; see re-, pose 1
Explanation
Repose is a formal or literary term used to mean the act of resting, or the state of being at rest. Repose is also a state of mind: freedom from worry. As a verb, repose means to rest or relax, or to rest on something for support: "There she was, reposing on the front porch." The verb is from Middle English, from Old French reposer, from Late Latin repausāre, "to cause to rest," from the Latin prefix re-, "again," plus pausāre, "to rest."
Vocabulary lists containing repose
The Great Gatsby
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Animal Farm
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"The Tell-Tale Heart," Vocabulary from the short story
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hansard will lie in repose for those wishing to pay their respects.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
A moral universe in which I can meaningfully tell my beads for the repose of the souls of departed friends and family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
While her maybe-beau stays forced in repose, Iris cycles through all the different types of women she could be.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2025
Unlike Manet, Degas, Renoir and Cassatt, Gustave Caillebotte mostly painted men rather than women — men at work, men in repose, even naked men getting out of the bath.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2025
His whole body had sagged into a timeless repose.
From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck
“She expressed a desire to vote and told me a little about her philanthropic work. She reposed great faith and confidence in Mr. Leno and relied on him for her protection and guidance.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2024
Kumar's comments came after Adani said in a statement late on Sunday that its "strategic and long-term investors have reposed complete faith and confidence in the group".
From Reuters ● Jan. 30, 2023
Passing sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Richardson said he had "betrayed every ounce of trust reposed in you".
From BBC ● May 10, 2022
Rehnquist wrote that the “controversy . . . involves a political question” and that “the word ‘sole’ indicates that this authority is reposed in the Senate and nowhere else.”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2021
Resting my head on Helen’s shoulder, I put my arms round her waist; she drew me to her, and we reposed in silence.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Monday’s trek rolled serenely past the Zenaruzza monastery and through hilly countryside under reposing blue skies, before crossing over into France.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 3, 2023
BJP workers celebrated the party’s showing in Gujarat state with the state’s top elected official, Bhupendra Patel, describing the win as “people reposing full faith in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2022
Mr Rao said India reposing its faith in the Quad was significant.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2022
She placed it in the tabernacle, knelt once more, and turned the monstrance to face the side, signaling that Christ was now reposing.
From New York Times ● Jun. 26, 2021
A first photograph, somewhat overexposed, is taken by Dr. Gupta that broiling hot, late summer’s day: Gogol, an indistinct blanketed mass, reposing in his weary mother’s arms.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
