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. 14b).
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.
Idioms for rest
at rest,
in a state of repose, as in sleep.
dead.
quiescent; inactive; not in motion: the inertia of an object at rest.
free from worry; tranquil: Nothing could put his mind at rest.
lay to rest,
to inter (a dead body); bury: He was laid to rest last Thursday.
to allay, suppress, or appease.
Origin of rest
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun rest(e), rast(e), Old English reste, ræst; akin to German Rast; the verb is derivative of the noun
SYNONYMS FOR rest
7 stop, halt, standstill.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rest ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM rest
rester,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rest
rest , wrest
Definition for rest (2 of 3)
rest2
[ 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.
BritishBanking. surplus (defs. 1, 2).
verb (used without object)
to continue to be; remain as specified: Rest assured that all is well.
Origin of rest
2
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English verb resten “to remain due or unpaid,” from Middle French rester “to remain,” from Latin restāre “to remain standing, linger, stay put” equivalent to re- prefix + stāre “to stand, stand up, be standing”; noun derivative of the verb; see re-, stand
The survey sample consisted of 52% Android users and 43% iPhone owners, with the rest uncertain or choosing “other.”
Apple IDFA consent: Roughly 60% of consumers open to allowing tracking|Greg Sterling|September 11, 2020|Search Engine Land
The rest is maintenance, like minding Google’s core updates and creating regular content, or it will trickle to a stopover time.
Five reasons why SEO should be prioritized over paid media campaigns|Ryan Gould|September 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Foye told reporters an additional $12 billion from Congress would allow the MTA to avoid cuts for the rest of 2020 as well as 2021, when a coronavirus vaccine is expected to become widely available.
New York City transit needs a $12 billion bailout—or the entire U.S. economic recovery may suffer|dzanemorris|September 3, 2020|Fortune
In addition to the FAA’s eye being on Amazon’s success, you have the rest of the industry cheering them on from the sidelines.
Amazon is one big step closer to delivering packages by drone|Rob Verger|September 2, 2020|Popular Science
Amazon, however, has decided to set its new fitness device apart from the rest by relying heavily on AI algorithms and listening to your voice.
Amazon’s new fitness tracker listens to your voice to figure out your mood|Stan Horaczek|September 2, 2020|Popular Science
A copy of AA Today, an Alcoholics Anonymous publication, rested atop the bureau.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From early in its history, the United States rested on the notion of a large class of small proprietors and owners.
In the Future We'll All Be Renters: America's Disappearing Middle Class|Joel Kotkin|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The multitude of decisions invalidating laws prohibiting same-sex marriage have rested on three different rationales.
Justice Kennedy Opened the Door to Same-Sex Marriage, Will He Walk Through Next?|Geoffrey R. Stone|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the lake, where it had rested for more than 40 years, was the wreckage of a downed American B-52.
Going Back to Vietnam Is Sometimes Amusing, Often Fraught, and Always Surreal|Jeff Greenfield|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sure, he could have rested on his laurels and retired a decade ago.
‘To Be Takei’ Traces George Takei’s Journey From Japanese Internment Camps to Cultural Icon|Marlow Stern|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her cheeks paled at the sound, and she rested silent until presently summoned to the drawing-room.
From the Valley of the Missing|Grace Miller White
This was satisfying news to all, and they rested for a while.
The Forest Runners|Joseph A. Altsheler
Arethusa propped her elbows on the high counter, and rested her chin on them so she could regard his work.
The Heart of Arethusa|Francis Barton Fox
Something heavy had rested there recently—there had been other desks about, or heavily laden tables.
Pursuit|Lester del Rey
With trembling hands she pushed the head away, until it rested on the ground.
The Dead Are Silent|Arthur Schnitzler
British Dictionary definitions for rest (1 of 2)
rest1
/ (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
prosodya 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
billiardssnookerany of various special poles used as supports for the cue in shots that cannot be made using the hand as a support
come to restto slow down and stop
lay to restto bury (a dead person)
set someone's mind at restto 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
lawto 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 forms of rest
rester, 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 rest (2 of 2)
rest2
/ (rɛst) /
nounthe 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