Dictionary.com
definitions

resting

[res-ting]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR resting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

that rests; not active.
Botany. dormant: applied especially to spores or seeds that germinate after a period of dormancy.

RELATED CONTENT

rest in peace
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
no rest for the wicked
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

sleeping, quiet, dreaming, lounging, relaxing, napping, crashed, established, placed, seated, located, lying, repose, asleep, comfortable, incumbent, static, upon, abed

Origin of resting

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rest1, -ing2
Related formsun·rest·ing, adjective

rest

1
[rest]

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 tranquillity: to go away for a rest.
mental or spiritual calm; tranquillity.
the repose of death: eternal rest.
cessation or absence of motion: to bring a machine to rest.
Music.
  1. an interval of silence between tones.
  2. a mark or sign indicating it.
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 14).

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 tranquillity or peace.
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 eyes on 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.

Origin of rest

1
before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; akin to German Rast; (v.) Middle English resten, Old English restan; akin to German rasten
Related formsrest·er, noun
Can be confusedrest wrest

Synonyms for rest

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rest ON THESAURUS.COM
7. stop, halt, standstill.

rest

2
[rest]

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

2
1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English resten to remain due or unpaid < Middle French rester to remain < Latin restāre to remain standing, equivalent to re- re- + stāre to stand; (noun) late Middle English < Middle French reste, noun derivative of rester
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for resting

Contemporary Examples of resting

Historical Examples of resting

  • Celine stared, resting no slight weight on the hot flat-iron.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • It was three o'clock, and he would be resting from his work.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • He found Austin sitting on the chair by his desk, resting his chin on his elbow.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

  • Resting his head upon his hands, he looked upon them and sighed.

    Life in London

    Edwin Hodder

  • He riveted on the gods his enemies the yoke which had been resting on them.

British Dictionary definitions for resting

resting

adjective

not moving or working; at rest
euphemistic (of an actor) out of work
(esp of plant spores) undergoing a period of dormancy before germination
(of cells) not undergoing mitosis

rest

1

noun

  1. relaxation from exertion or labour
  2. (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
  1. not moving; still
  2. calm; tranquil
  3. dead
  4. 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
  1. to stop rowing for a time
  2. to stop doing anything for a time
Derived Formsrester, noun

Word Origin for rest

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

rest

2

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
Word Origin and History for resting

rest

n.1

"sleep," Old English ræste, reste "rest, bed, intermission of labor, mental peace," common Germanic (cf. Old Saxon resta "resting place, burial-place," Dutch rust, Old High German rasta, German Rast "rest, peace, repose"), of uncertain origin.

Original sense seems to be a measure of distance (cf. Old High German rasta, which in addition to "rest" meant "league of miles," Old Norse rost "league, distance after which one rests," Gothic rasta "mile, stage of a journey"), perhaps a word from the nomadic period. Unless the original sense is "repose," thence extended secondarily to "distance between two resting place."

The meaning "support, thing upon which something rests" is attested from 1580s. At rest "dead" is from mid-14c., on the notion of "last rest." Rest stop is from 1973. Colloquial expression to give (something) a rest "to stop talking about it" is first recorded 1927, American English.

rest

n.2

"remainder, that which is left after a separation," early 15c., from Middle French reste "remnant," from rester "to remain" (see rest (v.2)). Meaning "others, those not included in a proposition" is from 1530s.

rest

v.1

"repose, cease from action," Old English ræstan, restan "take repose by lying down; lie in death or in the grave; cease from motion, work, or performance; be without motion; be undisturbed, be free from what disquiets; stand or lie as upon a support or basis," from root of rest (n.1). Transitive senses "give repose to; lay or place, as on a support or basis" are from early 13c. Meaning "cease from, have intermission" is late 14c., also "rely on for support." Related: Rested; resting. Common Germanic, cf. Old Frisian resta, Dutch rusten, Old High German raston, German rasten, Swedish rasta, Danish raste "to rest." Resting place is from mid-14c.

rest

v.2

"to be left, remain," mid-15c., from Old French rester "to remain," from Latin restare "stand back, be left," from re- "back" (see re-) + stare "to stand" (see stet). Partially confused and merged with the other verb rest. Sense of "to continue to be" is in rest assured. Transitive sense of "to keep, cause to continue to remain" was common in 16c.-17c., "used with a predicate adjective following and qualifying the object" [Century Dictionary], hence phrase rest you merry (1540s); God rest you merry, gentlemen, often is mis-punctuated.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for resting

rest

[rĕst]

n.

Cessation of work, exertion, or activity.
Peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity.
Sleep or quiet relaxation.
Mental or emotional tranquillity.
A device used as a support, as for the back.
A group of embryonic cells or a portion of fetal tissue that has become displaced during development.
An extension from a prosthesis that gives vertical support to a dental restoration.

v.

To cease motion, work, or activity.
To lie down, especially to sleep.
To be supported or based; lie, lean, or sit.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with resting

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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.