resting

[ res-ting ]

/ ˈrɛs tɪŋ /

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.

Nearby words

restful, restfully, restharrow, restiform, restiform body, resting, resting cell, resting place, resting tidal volume, restitute, restitution

Origin of resting

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at rest¹, -ing²

Related formsun·rest·ing, adjective

Definition for resting (2 of 3)

rest

[ rest ]

/ rɛst /

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.

an interval of silence between tones.
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

before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; akin to German Rast; (v.) Middle English resten, Old English restan; akin to German rasten

SYNONYMS FOR rest

7 stop, halt, standstill.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsrest·er, noun

Can be confusedrest wrest

Definition for resting (3 of 3)

rest

[ 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

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

While the pork is resting, heat a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries|Carla Hall|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Court documents report that he was found lying on the bed, resting on three pillows and wearing earplugs.
Gems, Guns and Death in a Jungle Mansion|Zach Dyer|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My mother leaned into the archway while resting Ted on her hip, and let out a sigh of exhaustion.
‘Tracing the Blue Light’: Read Chapter 1 of Eileen Cronin’s ‘Mermaid’|Eileen Cronin|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many of their faces are visible while they are preparing for action or resting during the morning without their masks.
New Evidence: Russian Spies Backed Kiev's Killers|Jamie Dettmer|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“And you will be welcome,” said Abu Hassar, grinning his wide ear-to-ear grin and resting his heavy hand on my shoulder.
The Fourth War: My Lunch with a Jihadi|Elliot Ackerman|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rischenheim sat down by the table, resting his head on his hand.
Rupert of Hentzau|Anthony Hope
"If it is not bad, it is foolish," said Darius, resting his chin upon his hand and leaning forward.
Marzio's Crucifix and Zoroaster|F. Marion Crawford
So she stood an instant and then she reclined on the edge of the bed, resting on one elbow and looking down at him.
Bride of the Mistletoe|James Lane Allen
A heavy log, planed to a smooth top surface and resting on two projecting stone brackets, is frequently used with good effect.
Making a Fireplace|Henry H. Saylor
For this purpose it was necessary to occupy in America some spot which might be a resting place between Scotland and India.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for resting (1 of 3)

resting

/ (ˈrɛstɪŋ) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for resting (2 of 3)

rest

/ (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 Formsrester, 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 resting (3 of 3)

rest

/ (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

Word Origin and History for resting (1 of 4)

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.

Word Origin and History for resting (1 of 4)

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.

Word Origin and History for resting (2 of 4)

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.

Word Origin and History for resting (3 of 4)

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.

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.

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

resting

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of resting

Definition for resting (2 of 3)

rest

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of rest

Definition for resting (3 of 3)

rest

noun

verb (used without object)

Origin of rest

Examples from the Web for resting

British Dictionary definitions for resting (1 of 3)

resting

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for resting (2 of 3)

rest

noun

verb

Word Origin for rest

British Dictionary definitions for resting (3 of 3)

rest

noun the rest

verb

Word Origin for rest

Word Origin and History for resting (1 of 4)

rest

Word Origin and History for resting (1 of 4)

rest

Word Origin and History for resting (2 of 4)

rest

Word Origin and History for resting (3 of 4)

rest

Medicine definitions for resting

rest

n.

v.

Idioms and Phrases with resting

rest