rest

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈrest 

1

: repose, sleep

specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities

2

a

: freedom from activity or labor

b

: a state of motionlessness or inactivity

c

: the repose of death

3

: a place for resting or lodging

4

: peace of mind or spirit

5

a(1)

: a rhythmic silence in music

(2)

: a character representing such a silence

b

: a brief pause in reading

6

: something used for support

Illustration of rest

• 1 whole
• 2 half
• 3 quarter
• 4 eighth
• 5 sixteenth

rest

2 of 4

verb

rested; resting; rests

intransitive verb

1

a

: to get rest by lying down

especially : sleep

b

: to lie dead

2

: to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion

3

: to be free from anxiety or disturbance

4

: to sit or lie fixed or supported

a column rests on its pedestal

5

a

: to remain confident : trust

cannot rest on that assumption

b

: to be based or founded

the verdict rested on several sound precedents

6

: to remain for action or accomplishment

the answer rests with you

7

of farmland : to remain idle or uncropped

8

: to bring to an end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a law case

transitive verb

1

: to give rest to

2

: to set at rest

3

: to place on or against a support

4

: to cause to be firmly fixed

rested all hope in his child

5

: to desist voluntarily from presenting evidence pertinent to (a case at law)

rester noun

rest

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a projection or attachment on the side of the breastplate of medieval armor for supporting the butt of a lance

rest

4 of 4

noun (3)

: something that remains over : remainder

ate the rest of the candy

Phrases

at rest

1

: resting or reposing especially in sleep or death

2

: quiescent, motionless

3

: free of anxieties

for the rest

: with regard to remaining issues or needs

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• decompression
• ease
• leisure
• relaxation
• repose

Verb

• bask
• kick back
• loll
• lounge
• relax
• repose

Noun (3)

• balance
• leavings
• leftovers
• odds and ends
• remainder
• remains
• remnant
• residue
• residuum

Examples of rest in a Sentence

Verb

We will not rest until we discover the truth.

The workers were resting in the shade.

He is resting comfortably after his ordeal.

She went to her room to rest for a while.

The coach canceled practice to rest his team.

He rested his horse before continuing the journey.

You should rest your eyes after all that reading.

The pitcher needs to rest his arm.

The spoon was resting in the cup.

The house rests on a concrete foundation.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whether its a pro-approved sunscreen or dark spot diminishing treatment, rest assured its lineup is top-notch. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2023

If there is an absolute standard of rest, then going faster than light no longer immediately implies the ability to go back in time. —Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023

When your body is at rest, the medication has a longer window to soften or stimulate bowel movement, which results in timely relief in the morning. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 24 Nov. 2023

MacKinnon is on a sabbatical, which is meant to be a period of rest and reflection. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023

The brand is a multi-Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, after all, so rest assured that our editors have tested and love these nutrient-rich formulas. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Nov. 2023

After an episode of alcohol poisoning, rest and hydration are key. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

The name of this dessert implies the combination of every ingredient in the kitchen, but rest assured, this delicious dessert is anything but trash. —Nik Pugmire, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023

This isn't to say adequate rest has no importance, of course. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 14 Nov. 2023

Verb

Completed this year, the grand house rests on property that has a celebrity pedigree dating back to the 1930s. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2023

If Hamas decides not to do it, the responsibility will request – will rest squarely on Hamas' shoulders. —CBS News, 26 Nov. 2023

Her aging mother rests on cardboard with a bullet lodged in her breast, waiting for an operation. —Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023

Melt butter: Once preheated, add 1 stick butter to hot skillet, and allow to rest in oven until melted. —Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023

The round, plush bed is a soft and comfortable place for your dog to rest because its edges cocoon them with a sense of security. —Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023

Lauryn Hill’s vocal injury postpones another show on ‘Miseducation’ anniversary tour Oct. 31, 2023 Advertisement Earlier in the tour, Hill postponed October shows in Philadelphia and Fort Worth, Texas, to rest her voice. —Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023

The installation, stretching over 35 meters wide, showcases signature Dior codes; from stars and clovers to Zodiac signs, resting upon floating floral motifs. —Maia Torres, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023

Its center of gravity rests directly over its feet, with its muscles anchored to its skeleton, directing the turkey’s weight down below. —Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German rasta rest and perhaps to Old High German ruowa calm

Noun (2)

Middle English reste, literally, stoppage, short for areste, from Anglo-French arest, from arester to arrest

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French reste, from rester to remain, from Latin restare, from re- + stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rest

• at rest
• bed rest
• come to rest
• half rest
• give (something) a rest
• give it a rest
• quarter rest
• let (something) rest
• lay (someone) to rest
• lay/put (something) to rest
• rest stop
• rest mass
• rest/sit on one's laurels
• rest on/upon
• rest house
• rest home
• rest easy
• rest area
• the rest
• the rest of the world
• the rest is history
• sixty-fourth rest
• sixteenth rest
• rest with
• set/put someone's mind at ease/rest
• thirty-second rest
• whole rest
• eighth rest
• rest in peace
• for the rest
• rest assured

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• at rest
• bed rest
• come to rest
• half rest
• give (something) a rest
• give it a rest
• quarter rest
• let (something) rest
• lay (someone) to rest
• lay/put (something) to rest
• rest stop
• rest mass
• rest/sit on one's laurels
• rest on/upon
• rest house
• rest home
• rest easy
• rest area
• the rest
• the rest of the world
• the rest is history
• sixty-fourth rest
• sixteenth rest
• rest with
• set/put someone's mind at ease/rest
• thirty-second rest
• whole rest
• eighth rest
• rest in peace
• for the rest
• rest assured

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Kids Definition

rest

1 of 3 noun

ˈrest 

1

: sleep entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: freedom from activity

b

: a state marked by lack of motion or activity

3

: a place for resting or lodging

4

a

: a silence in music equal in time to a note of the same name

b

: a character standing for such a silence

5

: something used for support

a head rest

rest

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to get rest by lying down : sleep

b

: to give rest to

c

: to lie dead

2

: to not take part in work or activity

3

: to be free from anxiety or disturbance

4

: to place or be placed for or as if for support

5

a

: to be based or founded

b

: to fix or be fixed in hope or confidence

rested their hopes on their children

6

: to stop presenting evidence in a law case

the defense rests

rest

3 of 3 noun

: something that is left over or behind : remainder

ate the rest of the soup

Medical Definition

rest

1 of 3 noun

ˈrest 

1

: a state of repose or sleep see bed rest

2

: cessation or temporary interruption of motion, exertion, or labor

rest from hard physical effort

a ten-minute rest period

3

: a bodily state (as that attained by a fasting individual lying supine) characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities

the patient must have complete rest

4

: the part of a partial denture that rests on an abutment tooth, distributes stresses, and holds the clasp in position

5

: a firm but moldable cushion used to raise or support a portion of the body during surgery

a kidney rest

rest

2 of 3 intransitive verb

1

: to get rest by lying down

especially : sleep

2

: to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion

transitive verb

: to give rest to

rest your eyes

rest

3 of 3 noun

: a mass of surviving embryonic cells or of cells misplaced in development

most tumors derived from embryonic rests are benign

—Shields Warren

Legal Definition

rest

intransitive verb

: to bring to an end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a case

the defense rests

transitive verb

: to cease presenting evidence pertinent to (a case)