rest

[ rest ]

/ rɛst /

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See synonyms for: rest / rested / resting on Thesaurus.com

noun

the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep: a good night's rest.

refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor: to allow an hour for rest.

relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.

a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquility: to go away for a rest.

mental or spiritual calm; tranquility: At a high-pressure job like this, you need all the emotional rest you can get.

the repose of death: eternal rest.

cessation or absence of motion: to bring a machine to rest.

Music.

an interval of silence between tones.
a mark or sign indicating an interval of silence between tones.

Prosody. a short pause within a line; caesura.

a place that provides shelter or lodging for travelers, as an inn.

any stopping or resting place: a roadside rest for weary hikers.

a piece or thing for something to rest on: a hand rest.

a supporting device; support.

Billiards, Pool. bridge¹ (def. 14b).

verb (used without object)

to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing.

to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor.

to be at ease; have tranquility or peace: to practice meditation as a way to rest and regroup.

to repose in death.

to be quiet or still.

to cease from motion, come to rest; stop.

to become or remain inactive.

to stay as is or remain without further action or notice: to let a matter rest.

to lie, sit, lean, or be set: His arm rested on the table.

Agriculture. to lie fallow or unworked: to let land rest.

to be imposed as a burden or responsibility (usually followed by on or upon).

to rely (usually followed by on or upon).

to be based or founded (usually followed by on or upon).

to be found; belong; reside (often followed by with): The blame rests with them.

to be present; dwell; linger (usually followed by on or upon): A sunbeam rests upon the altar.

to be fixed or directed on something, as the eyes, a gaze, etc.

Law. to terminate voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a case.

verb (used with object)

to give rest to; refresh with rest: to rest oneself.

to lay or place for rest, ease, or support: to rest one's back against a tree.

to direct (as the eyes): to rest one's gaze upon someone.

to base, or let depend, as on some ground of reliance.

to bring to rest; halt; stop.

Law. to terminate voluntarily the introduction of evidence on: to rest one's case.

OTHER WORDS FOR rest

7 stop, halt, standstill.

See synonyms for rest on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about rest

at rest,

in a state of repose, as in sleep.
dead.
quiescent; inactive; not in motion: the inertia of an object at rest.
free from worry; tranquil: Nothing could put his mind at rest.

lay to rest,

to inter (a dead body); bury: He was laid to rest last Thursday.
to allay, suppress, or appease.

Origin of rest

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun rest(e), rast(e), Old English reste, ræst; akin to German Rast; the verb is derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM rest

rest·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rest

rest , wrest

Words nearby rest

responsory, responsum, respray, res publica, ressentiment, rest, restage, rest area, restart, rest assured, restate

Other definitions for rest (2 of 3)

rest²

[ rest ]

/ rɛst /

noun

the part that is left or remains; remainder: The rest of the students are in the corridor.

the others: All the rest are going.

British Banking. surplus (defs. 1, 2).

verb (used without object)

to continue to be; remain as specified: Rest assured that all is well.

Origin of rest

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English verb resten “to remain due or unpaid,” from Middle French rester “to remain,” from Latin restāre “to remain standing, linger, stay put” equivalent to re- prefix + stāre “to stand, stand up, be standing”; noun derivative of the verb; see re-, stand

Other definitions for rest (3 of 3)

rest³

[ rest ]

/ rɛst /

noun Armor.

a support for a lance; lance rest.

Origin of rest

First recorded in 1490–1500; shortening of arrest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rest in a sentence

There’s a built-in water bottle compartment for when you need to take a rest, plus a pocket for phone storage.
The best weighted vests for your next tough workout|PopSci Commerce Team|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
Over 60% of its revenues come from subscriptions, the rest from ads and events.
After reaching profitability in 2019, Politico EU aims for 10% revenue growth this year|Lucinda Southern|September 11, 2020|Digiday
By 2040, it wants to achieve this goal for the rest of the world.
Uber’s electric cars need a new grid to run emission free|Michael J. Coren|September 10, 2020|Quartz
If Scheffler’s hadn’t hooked me up with empties, I’d be eating three meals of olives a day right now—and for the rest of the year—with no regrets.
How (and Why) to Execute the Perfect Canoe Portage|Alex Hutchinson|September 9, 2020|Outside Online

Colin Rusch, analyst at investment bank Oppenheimer, said he expects more stock market volatility during the rest of the year.
Tesla’s stock has plunged 34% in one week|Danielle Abril|September 8, 2020|Fortune
These two videos rest atop bookmarked links to The Jeffrey Epstein Foundation.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I will turn my nose up when you offer me the rest of some delicious pastry that you nibbled on.
Why My Norovirus Panic Makes Me Sick|Lizzie Crocker|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Hopefully, she got as much of a laugh out of it as the rest of the world has.
Slow Motion Tiger Jump, a Tornado at the Rose Bowl and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They let us get ahead of the outfit, then the rest of the guys came in.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Egypt has a comparatively low number of HIV cases compared to the rest of Africa, with just 11,000 infected people nationwide.
Sisi Is Persecuting, Prosecuting, and Publicly Shaming Egypt’s Gays|Bel Trew|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Edna Pontellier, casting her eyes about, had finally kept them at rest upon the sea.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
We had half a dozen passengers to Ferrara; for the rest of the way, I had this extensive traveling establishment to myself.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Captains Spotstroke and Pool were equally careful; the rest of those present drank freely.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for rest (1 of 2)

rest¹

/ (rɛst) /

noun

relaxation from exertion or labour
(as modifier)a rest period

repose; sleep

any relief or refreshment, as from worry or something troublesome

calm; tranquillity

death regarded as reposeeternal rest

cessation from motion

at rest

not moving; still
calm; tranquil
dead
asleep

a pause or interval

a mark in a musical score indicating a pause of specific duration

prosody a pause in or at the end of a line; caesura

a shelter or lodginga seaman's rest

a thing or place on which to put something for support or to steady it; prop

billiards snooker any of various special poles used as supports for the cue in shots that cannot be made using the hand as a support

come to rest to slow down and stop

lay to rest to bury (a dead person)

set someone's mind at rest to reassure someone or settle someone's mind

verb

to take or give rest, as by sleeping, lying down, etc

to place or position (oneself, etc) for rest or relaxation

(tr) to place or position for support or steadyingto rest one's elbows on the table

(intr) to be at ease; be calm

to cease or cause to cease from motion or exertion; halt

to lie dead and buried

(intr) to remain without further attention or actionlet the matter rest

to direct (one's eyes) or (of one's eyes) to be directedher eyes rested on the sleeping child

to depend or cause to depend; base; relythe whole argument rests on one crucial fact

to place or be placed, as blame, censure, etc

to put pastry in a cool place to allow the gluten to contract

(intr ; foll by with, on, upon, etc) to be a responsibility (of)it rests with us to apportion blame

law to finish the introduction of evidence in (a case)

rest on one's laurels See laurel (def. 9)

rest on one's oars

to stop rowing for a time
to stop doing anything for a time

Derived forms of rest

rester, noun

Word Origin for rest

Old English ræst, reste, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic rasta a mile, Old Norse röst mile

British Dictionary definitions for rest (2 of 2)

rest²

/ (rɛst) /

noun the rest

something left or remaining; remainder

the othersthe rest of the world

verb

(copula) to continue to be (as specified); remainrest assured

Word Origin for rest

C15: from Old French rester to remain, from Latin rēstāre, from re- + stāre to stand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rest

rest

In addition to the idioms beginning with rest

rest assured
rest on one's laurels

also see:

at rest
lay at rest
lay to rest
set one's mind at rest

rest

OTHER WORDS FOR rest

Idioms about rest

Origin of rest

OTHER WORDS FROM rest

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rest

Words nearby rest

Other definitions for rest (2 of 3)

Origin of rest

Other definitions for rest (3 of 3)

Origin of rest

Words related to rest

How to use rest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rest (1 of 2)

Derived forms of rest

Word Origin for rest

British Dictionary definitions for rest (2 of 2)

Word Origin for rest

Other Idioms and Phrases with rest