repose

noun

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Definition of repose

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : a state of resting after exertion or strain especially : rest in sleep

b : eternal or heavenly rest pray for the repose of a soul

2a : a place of rest

b : peace, tranquility the repose of the bayous

c : a harmony in the arrangement of parts and colors that is restful to the eye

3a : lack of activity : quiescence

b : cessation or absence of activity, movement, or animation the face in repose is grave and thoughtful

4 : composure of manner : poise

repose

verb (1)

re·pose | \ ri-ˈpōz

reposed; reposing

Definition of repose (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

: to lay at rest

intransitive verb

1a : to lie at rest

b : to lie dead reposing in state

c : to remain still or concealed

2 : to take a rest

3 : to rest for support : lie

4 archaic : rely

repose

verb (2)

re·pose

reposed; reposing

Definition of repose (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to place (confidence, trust, etc.) in someone or something

b : to place for control, management, or use

2 archaic : to put away or set down : deposit

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about repose

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Examples of repose in a Sentence

Noun typically the wealthy socialite spends most of the morning in repose, is served lunch, and then embarks on an exhaustive afternoon of shopping enjoyed the repose of a serene summer evening

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun On Wednesday, mourners paid respects to Cummings as his body lay in repose at Morgan State University, a historically black college in Cummings' district. — William Cummings, USA TODAY, "Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton to attend Elijah Cummings' Baltimore funeral," 25 Oct. 2019 Cummings will lie in repose Wednesday at Morgan State University. — CBS News, "Final farewells to Rep. Elijah Cummings begin in native Baltimore," 23 Oct. 2019 The Supreme Court says the body of former Justice John Paul Stevens will lie in repose at the court on Monday. — Time, "Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' Body to Lie in Repose at Supreme Court," 18 July 2019 His body now lies in repose at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, and over 12,000 people have already come to pay their respects to the former president. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "All the Details on George H. W. Bush's Funeral," 6 Dec. 2018 The free-surfing equivalent is the soul arch—a casual, stylish moment of repose. — Jamie Brisick, The New Yorker, "Surfing in the Age of the Omnipresent Camera," 26 Aug. 2019 His subjects are often at play in grass, smiling in repose and occasionally peer with an honest gaze at the camera. — Antwaun Sargent, New York Times, "Black Beauty: Photography Between Art and Fashion," 5 Sep. 2019 States like Oklahoma are also driving much of the legal action against pharmaceutical companies in repose to the opioid crisis. — Wired, "States Are Turning up the Heat on Google and Facebook," 9 Sep. 2019 On a green leather sofa, Cara Delevingne lies down on her stomach, a portrait of repose with her head propped against the armrest and her eyes clear and unflinching. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Cara Delevingne Poses Nude and Gets Vulnerable for Marie Claire’s Cover Story," 13 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb These are genuine challenges, so please don’t rush to peek at the answers, which repose at the end of this column: 1. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Try your head and hand at solving classic riddles," 13 July 2019 Finally, in Bill’s magic package reposed a miniature three-legged stool inside a clear jar with a white lid. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Our language is moonstruck with lunar words," 3 Aug. 2019 Xiao long bao were another animal altogether, thin-skinned purses gently swollen with light broth, the amniotic potion in which a small, seasoned serving of meat reposed. — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "Soup dumplings hit Orlando — here’s where to stab and slurp them," 5 July 2019 Today the vast majority of Wallace’s birds repose at a branch of the Natural History Museum, London, located 30 miles northwest of the city, in Tring. — Franz Lidz, Smithsonian, "The Great Feather Heist," 21 Mar. 2018 This sacred relic—an official game ball used by the late, lamented American Basketball Association—reposes behind glass at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. — Franz Lidz, Smithsonian, "The ABA Was Short-Lived, but Its Impact on Basketball Is Eternal," 21 Sep. 2017 And that is why 125 crore countrymen have been able to repose faith in our governance. — Time Staff, Time, "Read the Full Transcript of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day Speech," 15 Aug. 2017 In a second photograph, the singer can be seen reposing nonchalantly in a bed, wearing the same jumpsuit and covered in part by white bedsheets. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Demi Lovato Jokes About Her Breasts in Body Confident Instagram Post," 23 June 2017 Today, when people repose by themselves in bed at night, a buzz of friends and strangers emanates from their screens. — Nika Mavrody, The Atlantic, "The Dangers of Reading in Bed," 19 May 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb These are genuine challenges, so please don’t rush to peek at the answers, which repose at the end of this column: 1. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Try your head and hand at solving classic riddles," 13 July 2019 Finally, in Bill’s magic package reposed a miniature three-legged stool inside a clear jar with a white lid. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Our language is moonstruck with lunar words," 3 Aug. 2019 Xiao long bao were another animal altogether, thin-skinned purses gently swollen with light broth, the amniotic potion in which a small, seasoned serving of meat reposed. — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "Soup dumplings hit Orlando — here’s where to stab and slurp them," 5 July 2019 Ticketmaster did not immediately reposed to a request for comment. — Jacob Taylor /, NBC News, "Ticketmaster data theft part of larger credit card scheme, security firm says," 10 July 2018 Today the vast majority of Wallace’s birds repose at a branch of the Natural History Museum, London, located 30 miles northwest of the city, in Tring. — Franz Lidz, Smithsonian, "The Great Feather Heist," 21 Mar. 2018 This sacred relic—an official game ball used by the late, lamented American Basketball Association—reposes behind glass at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. — Franz Lidz, Smithsonian, "The ABA Was Short-Lived, but Its Impact on Basketball Is Eternal," 21 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

14 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for repose

The first known use of repose was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for repose

repose

noun

English Language Learners Definition of repose

formal + literary : a state of resting or not being active

See the full definition for repose in the English Language Learners Dictionary

repose

verb

re·pose | \ ri-ˈpōz

reposed; reposing

Kids Definition of repose

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to lay or lie at rest I reposed my head on his shoulder. The dog is reposing on the couch.

repose

noun

Kids Definition of repose (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a state of resting

2 : freedom from disturbance or excitement : calm … there was a delicious sense of repose and peace in the deep pervading calm and silence of the woods.— Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer

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