rest

REST/ɹɛst/

Pluralrests (some meanings)

Verbrests, resting, rested

29 meanings of rest

Practice

1
what remainsnoununcountable
What is left, or the other people or things, as in the rest of the cake or the rest of the class.
We spent half the money and saved the rest.
She read the rest of the book on the train.
UsageSay the rest of something.
Similarremainder, balance, leftovers, others
2
stop and relaxverbintransitive
To stop doing things for a while, or sleep, so you can relax and get your strength back.
Like pressing pause on a game to catch your breath.
After hours of digging, the workers stopped to rest.
The doctor told him to rest for a few days.
UsageI won't rest until means I will keep trying.
Similarrelax, recuperate, pause, unwind, recover
Oppositework, toil, labor
Note
3
nouncountable
Time spent relaxing or sleeping so you can recover after being active or tired.
Like a phone charging up after its battery runs low.
After the long hike, they took a short rest under a tree.
A good rest helped her feel strong again.
UsageSay have a rest or take a rest.
Oppositework, exertion, activity, labor
4
verbreflexivetransitive or intransitive
To lean or place something against or on top of another thing.
Rest your arm on the table while you write.
The book rests on the top shelf.
UsageRest something on or against something.
Similarlean, prop, lie, sit, place
5
depend onverbintransitive
To depend on something for support or proof.
Such plans rest on a lot of luck.
The team's hopes rested on their best player.
UsageSay something rests on something.
Similardepend, rely, hinge, hang, turn
Note
6
verbintransitive
To stay in a place, or to belong to someone as their duty, right or power.
Such duties rest with the city council.
The lighthouse rests at the edge of the cliff.
UsageSay the choice rests with you.
Similarlie, reside, belong, remain
7
lie in peaceverbintransitive
To lie dead, used as a gentle way of saying someone has died.
Like sleeping forever and never waking up.
May she rest in peace.
Here lie the sailors who rest beneath the cold sea.
UsageUsed in rest in peace.
Similarlie, sleep, repose
Note
8
nouncountable
A stand or support that holds something up.
Put the hot spoon on the spoon rest, not the counter.
The hunter steadied his rifle on a wooden rest.
UsageOften armrest or headrest.
Similarsupport, cradle
Note
9
not movingnoununcountable
The state of being still and not moving, as in an object at rest.
Like a parked car that does not move until someone drives it.
A ball stays at rest until something pushes it.
The car came to rest at the bottom of the hill.
UsageUsually at rest.
Similarstillness, inactivity, standstill
Oppositemotion, movement, activity
Note
10
stopping placenouncountable or uncountable
A place where someone can stop to relax or stay.
in dust our final rest, and native home
1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost
Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
Similarhaven, refuge, retreat, abode, home
Note

Less common meanings

11
nouneuphemisticuncountable
A peaceful word for death, or the calm state after someone has died.
Like falling into a deep sleep that never ends.
She found her eternal rest beneath the old oak tree.
The family took comfort that he had gone to his rest at last.
UsageLaid to rest means buried.
Similarpeace
Note
12
verbreflexivetransitive
To let something stop and relax, such as your eyes or legs.
Rest your eyes for a few minutes after staring at the screen.
Sit down and rest your legs for a while.
UsageCommon phrases include rest your eyes and rest your voice.
Similarspare, bench
Oppositestrain, overwork, tax
Note
13
peace of mindnoununcountable
A calm, peaceful feeling, with no worry or stress.
Like a calm lake with no waves on it.
The good news from the doctor set my mind at rest.
His mind knew no rest until the truth came out.
Similarpeace, quiet, tranquility
Oppositeturmoil, disquiet, agitation, unrest
Note
14
end a caseverbUStransitive or intransitive
In a trial, to finish presenting your side and then wait for the decision.
Like finishing your turn in a game and waiting to see who wins.
The defense will rest its case tomorrow morning.
The defense rested after calling only two witnesses.
UsageIn everyday talk, I rest my case means “that proves my point.”
Similarconclude, close, finish
Note
15
verbintransitive
To stay in a certain state or way.
Rest assured, your package will arrive on time.
You can rest assured that we will fix your car today.
UsageSay rest assured: don't worry.
Similarremain, stay
Note
16
silence (music)nouncountable
In music, a silent pause of a set length, or the sign in written music that shows it.
Like a short moment of silence between two words you speak.
The drummer counted carefully through the rest.
There is a short rest right before the chorus.
Similarpause, silence
Note
17
verbintransitive
To stop being active and feel calm, with nothing bothering you.
Like a lake that goes calm after the wind stops.
She could not rest until her son came home safe.
Once the lost dog came home, we could all rest easy.
UsageOften could not rest.
Similarrelax, settle, repose, sleep
18
verbintransitive
To stay still and inactive for a time.
Like a bear sleeping all winter and waking up in spring.
The seeds rest in the soil all winter before they sprout.
The old volcano has rested quietly for hundreds of years.
Similarlie, idle
19
stop thereverbintransitive
To stop moving or come to a pause or a final end.
Like a song that comes to its last note and stops.
The matter did not rest there. She wrote to the mayor the next day.
The matter rested there until someone raised it again.
UsageOften rest there.
Similarstop, end, cease, lie, drop
Oppositecontinue, resume
20
be satisfiedverbintransitive
To feel happy with something and accept it without arguing.
Like sitting back happily once you know everything is okay.
She would not rest content with second place.
She would not rest content until the truth came out.
UsageUsually in rest satisfied with or rest content with.
Note
21
cue supportnouncountable
A stick with a special head that holds up the cue when the ball is too far to reach.
Like a small stand that holds something up when your hand can't reach.
He reached for the rest to make the awkward shot across the table.
Without a rest, she could not steady her cue for the long shot.
Similarbridge
Note
22
poetry pausenouncountable or uncountable
A short pause when reading a line of poetry.
Like taking a quick breath in the middle of a sentence.
In this poem, each line has a short rest in the middle.
A well-timed rest gives a line of verse more feeling.
Similarcaesura, pause, break
Note
23
tennis setnoundatedcountable or uncountable
A single game or set in a tennis match.
Similarset, game
24
verbtransitive or intransitivecooking
For food like cooked meat or dough, to sit for a while before you cut, serve, or cook it more.
Let the turkey rest for twenty minutes before you cut it.
She rested the pizza dough while the oven heated up.
UsageSay let the meat rest.
Similarstand, sit
Note
25
noun
A regular check of the balance in an account, often when interest is added.
26
noun
A small part sticking out from armor that holds up a knight's lance.
27
nounUK
Money a bank saves to keep dividends steady, or what England's central bank owns beyond its debts.
28
verbobsolete
To make someone stay in a certain state, as in 'God rest you merry'.
29
verbobsolete
To seize and hold someone by law, as police do.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of rest apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 3, 8–11, 13, 16, 21–23

From Old English ræst, meaning rest. It goes back to an old Germanic word for rest; its roots before that are uncertain.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

English rest descends from Old English ræst. en.wiktionary.org
Old English ræst meant rest. en.wiktionary.org
The word descends from an older Germanic word meaning rest. en.wiktionary.org
The origin before Proto-Germanic is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2, 4–7, 12, 14, 17–20, 24

From Old English restan, meaning to rest. It comes from an old Germanic word for rest; its roots before that are uncertain.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

The verb rest derives from Old English restan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English restan means “to rest.” en.wiktionary.org
The word has an earlier Germanic source meaning “rest.” en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate origin beyond Germanic is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 1

From Old French reste, from Latin restō meaning to stay back. It replaced the older English word lave.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Rest derives from Old French reste, ultimately from Latin restō. en.wiktionary.org
Latin restō means 'to stay back'. en.wiktionary.org
Rest replaced the older English word lave. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 15

From Old French rester, from Latin restō.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

English rest derives from Old French rester. en.wiktionary.org
Old French rester derives from Latin restō. en.wiktionary.org