resting

American

[res-ting] / ˈrɛs tɪŋ /

adjective

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

resting British

/ 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

"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

unresting adjective

Etymology

Origin of resting

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; 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.

Grass grows longer in fields that are resting up to two months between being grazed.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

"We're just glad we could provide a cozy resting spot in our store," he added.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Upon landing, the animals face strict customs inspections before resting at waypoint stables.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

The cells produced higher levels of energy molecules while resting but struggled to boost energy production when under stress.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

Then he helped her lie flat along the length of the tree, with her cheek resting on the bark.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023