rest 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈrest How to pronounce rest (audio)
Definition of restnext
1
as in relaxation
freedom from activity or labor the coming weekend will provide some much needed rest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in resting
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself after a long day, I lay down on the couch for a little rest before dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rest

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in remainder
a remaining group or portion can you hand me the rest of those papers?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rest

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to relax
to refrain from labor or exertion a beach resort that caters to gung ho exercisers and athletes as well as vacationers who just want to rest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sleep
to be in a state of sleep the patient is currently resting, but as soon as he awakes, I'll tell him you called

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to base
to find a basis you're resting your argument on a faulty premise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rest
Noun
From rustic to high fashion, the 135-year-old historical landmark sits in a perfect location for both rest and play. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026 Leave hours unscheduled for rest, for a friend who refills you or for nothing at all. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
After Tuesday's nights heroics — Arsenal rested some first-team stars but still picked a strong lineup — Fleetwood will have to immediately turn its attention to Saturday's visit of Bristol Rovers. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Instead of laying it to rest, those encounters likely helped preserve it. — Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rest
  1. relaxation
  2. resting
  3. remainder
  4. relax
  5. sleep
  6. base
  7. leisure
  8. bed
Noun
  • The Ritz-Carlton also boasts the island’s only hammam, as well as a spacious relaxation deck to amplify the sense of elemental escape, with waves lapping away just beneath your feet.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The six-bedroom, six-bath farmhouse is considered a hub for recreation and relaxation with a 75-foot swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, tennis and bocce courts.
    — Kat Tran October 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxation
Noun
  • This group has promoted the Durupınar site as the resting place of Noah’s Ark since at least 2021.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • On an autumn day in 1860, a bearded British man visited George Washington’s tomb at his final resting place in Virginia.
    — Nicky Robertson, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of resting
Noun
  • To be clear, this remains a bull market, the S&P 500's uptrend unbroken, with constant rotations between AI tech and remainder of the market fitfully supporting the tape, with pullbacks limited to 3% for half a year.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The agreement would provide Warner's daughter with the majority remainder of the Warner Family Trust and estate but remains subject to court approval, Pamela Warner's attorneys said.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of remainder
Verb
  • Each has an ofuro tub, steam shower, infrared sauna, relaxing area to take tea and fruit after a treatment, and an outside garden area with a plunge pool and an outdoor shower.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In one photo, Hudson showed off her toned figure in a bright red bandeau bikini while relaxing on the beach with her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • Ernest couldn’t sleep, but lay awake on his mattress in the basement, figuring.
    — Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Bönan said the aim is to make visitors feel like guests in a prince’s house, much like the nobles and royals who were welcomed and slept under its grand ceilings.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of sleep
Verb
  • One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training and helicopter rental company based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Her body has never been recovered, preventing investigators from closing the case based solely on his confession.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of base
Noun
  • The surprise, perhaps, is that even after paying high prices for essential expenses like groceries and gas, people are still willing to spend on leisure.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Members of the reading class have been worried about the decline of other people reading in their leisure time since at least the advent of television.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of leisure
Noun
  • The bed and pillows were equal parts cozy and supportive, and the layout provided plenty of space for my husband and I to come and go with ease.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The night nurse took over and taught him how to swaddle the baby, whose name was written on the dry-erase board across from the bed.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of bed

Phrases Containing rest

Browse Nearby Words

responsiveness
rest
restart
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rest. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of candidate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All