rest

/rɛst/

/rɛst/

Other forms: rested; resting; rests

To rest means to relax into something and let it support you. Rest yourself on the couch for a while, if you're tired.

The word rest comes from the German rasta meaning "league of miles." If you walked that far, you'd need a good rest too. Whatever way you choose to use the word rest — whether it's something you do, something you take, or something you put your arm up on — you're describing a moment of stillness and calm. Rest also means "the stuff left over." Who will eat the rest of the cookies when you have to rest from eating so many of them?

Definitions of rest

1. verb

   take a short break from one's activities in order to relax
   synonyms: breathe, catch one's breath, take a breather

   type of:

   break, intermit, pause

   cease an action temporarily
2. verb

   be at rest
   antonyms:

   be active

   be in a state of action

   types:

   catch some Z's, kip, log Z's, sleep, slumber

   be asleep

   drowse

   be on the verge of sleeping

   bundle, practice bundling

   sleep fully clothed in the same bed with one's betrothed

   catch a wink, catnap, nap

   take a siesta

   sleep in, sleep late

   sleep later than usual or customary

   hibernate, hole up

   sleep during winter

   aestivate, estivate

   sleep during summer

   nod

   be almost asleep

   type of:

   recline, recumb, repose

   lean in a comfortable resting position
3. verb

   rest on or as if on a pillow
   synonyms: pillow

   type of:

   lay, place, pose, position, put, set

   put into a certain place or abstract location
4. verb

   give a rest to
   “He rested his bad leg”

   “Rest the dogs for a moment”

   types:

   blow

   allow to regain its breath
5. verb

   be inactive, refrain from acting
   “The committee is resting over the summer”

   types:

   hibernate

   be in an inactive or dormant state
6. noun

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

   synonyms: relief, respite, rest period

   types:

   breath, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time

   a short respite

   type of:

   break, intermission, interruption, pause, suspension

   a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
7. noun

   freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)
   synonyms: ease, relaxation, repose

   types:

   bed rest, bedrest

   confinement to bed continuously (as in the case of some sick or injured persons)

   laziness

   relaxed and easy activity

   lie-in

   a long stay in bed in the morning

   dormancy, quiescence, quiescency, sleeping

   quiet and inactive restfulness

   leisure

   freedom to choose a pastime or enjoyable activity

   vegetation

   inactivity that is passive and monotonous, comparable to the inactivity of plant life

   vacationing

   the act of taking a vacation

   type of:

   inactivity

   being inactive; being less active
8. noun

   euphemism for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb)
   “she was laid to rest beside her husband”

   synonyms: eternal rest, eternal sleep, quietus, sleep

   type of:

   death

   the absence of life or state of being dead
9. verb

   stay the same; remain in a certain state
   “rest assured”

   synonyms: remain, stay

   types:

   keep out

   remain outside

   sit tight

   maintain the same position; wait it out

   stay together, stick together

   be loyal to one another, especially in times of trouble

   stand

   remain inactive or immobile

   keep, stay fresh

   fail to spoil or rot

   be

   to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
10. verb

    not move; be in a resting position
    types:

    kneel

    rest one's weight on one's knees

    stand, stand up

    be standing; be upright

    ramp

    stand with arms or forelegs raised, as if menacing

    stand back

    stand away from an object or person

    line up, queue, queue up

    form a queue, form a line, stand in line

    type of:

    be

    have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
11. verb

    put something in a resting position, as for support or steadying
    “Rest your head on my shoulder”

    type of:

    lay, place, pose, position, put, set

    put into a certain place or abstract location
12. verb

    have a place in relation to something else
    “The responsibility rests with the Allies”

    synonyms: lie

    lie

    be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

    type of:

    be

    occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
13. verb

    sit, as on a branch
    synonyms: perch, roost

    type of:

    sit, sit down

    be seated
14. noun

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

    type of:

    inaction, inactiveness, inactivity

    the state of being inactive
15. noun

    a support on which things can be put
    types:

    armrest

    a support for the arm

    chin rest

    a rest on which a violinist can place the chin

    headrest

    a rest for the head

    arm

    the part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person

    type of:

    support

    any device that bears the weight of another thing
16. verb

    be inherent or innate in;
    synonyms: repose, reside

    type of:

    attach to, inhere in

    be part of
17. noun

    a musical notation indicating a silence of a specified duration
    types:

    whole rest

    a musical rest equal in duration to four beats in common time

    half rest

    a musical rest having the time value of half a whole rest or equal in duration to two beats in common time

    quarter rest

    a musical rest having one-fourth the time value of a whole rest

    type of:

    musical notation

    (music) notation used by musicians
18. noun

    something left after other parts have been taken away
    “he threw away the rest”

    synonyms: balance, remainder, residual, residue, residuum

    types:

    dregs, leftover, remnant

    a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists

    type of:

    component, component part, constituent, moiety, part, portion

    something determined in relation to something that includes it