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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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

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 in1490–1500; shortening of arrest

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

How to use rest in a sentence

The survey sample consisted of 52% Android users and 43% iPhone owners, with the rest uncertain or choosing “other.”
Apple IDFA consent: Roughly 60% of consumers open to allowing tracking|Greg Sterling|September 11, 2020|Search Engine Land
The rest is maintenance, like minding Google’s core updates and creating regular content, or it will trickle to a stopover time.
Five reasons why SEO should be prioritized over paid media campaigns|Ryan Gould|September 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Foye told reporters an additional $12 billion from Congress would allow the MTA to avoid cuts for the rest of 2020 as well as 2021, when a coronavirus vaccine is expected to become widely available.
New York City transit needs a $12 billion bailout—or the entire U.S. economic recovery may suffer|dzanemorris|September 3, 2020|Fortune
In addition to the FAA’s eye being on Amazon’s success, you have the rest of the industry cheering them on from the sidelines.
Amazon is one big step closer to delivering packages by drone|Rob Verger|September 2, 2020|Popular-Science

Amazon, however, has decided to set its new fitness device apart from the rest by relying heavily on AI algorithms and listening to your voice.
Amazon’s new fitness tracker listens to your voice to figure out your mood|Stan Horaczek|September 2, 2020|Popular-Science
His chin rested on the thick plastic collar buckled around his neck.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The board decided simply to table the resolution, and there the matter rested.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A copy of AA Today, an Alcoholics Anonymous publication, rested atop the bureau.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One was overgrown with trees, where young men rested in the shade.
Fighting Back With Faith: Inside the Yezidis’ Iraqi Temple|Michael Luongo|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From early in its history, the United States rested on the notion of a large class of small proprietors and owners.
In the Future We'll All Be Renters: America's Disappearing Middle Class|Joel Kotkin|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lady Maude advanced; she had really come in by accident; her head was bent, her eyelashes rested on her flushed cheeks.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
I was too much enamoured of the honour to question the foundation on which it rested.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
To lose a breath of the public approbation in his present state, were to give up fatally the only stay on which he rested.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
"Tough—but most of us have been there, one time or another," Goodell observed sympathetically; and with that the subject rested.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
He kept his sword pointed at the eyes of his adversary; but he never rested for an instant.
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

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