ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

rest

noun · verb

Words like rest

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MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01noun

something left after other parts have been taken away

“there was no remainder”

“he threw away the rest”

02noun

freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)

“took his repose by the swimming pool”

03noun

a pause for relaxation

“people actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests”

04noun

a state of inaction

“a body will continue in a state of rest until acted upon”

14 more meanings

05noun

euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb)

“she was laid to rest beside her husband”

“they had to put their family pet to sleep”

06noun

a support on which things can be put

“the gun was steadied on a special rest”

07noun

a musical notation indicating a silence of a specified duration

08verb

not move; be in a resting position

09verb

take a short break from one's activities in order to relax

10verb

give a rest to

“He rested his bad leg”

“Rest the dogs for a moment”

11verb

have a place in relation to something else

“The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West”

“The responsibility rests with the Allies”

12verb

be at rest

13verb

stay the same; remain in a certain state

“The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it”

“rest assured”

14verb

be inherent or innate in

15verb

put something in a resting position, as for support or steadying

“Rest your head on my shoulder”

16verb

sit, as on a branch

“The birds perched high in the tree”

17verb

rest on or as if on a pillow

“pillow your head”

18verb

be inactive, refrain from acting

“The committee is resting over the summer”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

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Expressions with “rest”

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Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

at rest rest on bed rest gun rest rest day chin rest half rest rest area