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Synonyms

resting

American  
[res-ting] / ˈrɛs tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. that rests; not active.

  2. Botany. dormant: applied especially to spores or seeds that germinate after a period of dormancy.


resting British  
/ ˈrɛstɪŋ /

adjective

  1. not moving or working; at rest

  2. euphemistic (of an actor) out of work

  3. (esp of plant spores) undergoing a period of dormancy before germination

  4. (of cells) not undergoing mitosis

"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 Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of resting

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rest 1, -ing 2

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:

Trust founder Sue Sayers said seals resting on beaches were regularly being disturbed by people, causing stress, injury and sleep deprivation.

From BBC Sep. 5, 2026

Given its massive size, it would interrupt the sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial, one of Washington's iconic landmarks, and Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of American servicemembers.

From Barron's Sep. 3, 2026

“I’ll sit in my room like this,” Dean continues, leaning her head forward as if it’s resting on a desk between a pair of imaginary speakers.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

This supports a higher resting energy expenditure, aiding long-term weight maintenance.

From Science Daily Aug. 22, 2026

They made for much easier resting posts, so I just followed them, stopping along the way with no idea where they were leading me.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

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