Rest

/rest/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonState
4 meanings3 idioms/phrases4 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

A state of relaxation, sleep, or inactivity.

/rest/

nounneutralBeginner
State

A period of inactivity or relaxation.

I need some rest after running.

💡 Simply: Rest is like taking a break from doing stuff, like when you're tired and sit down to recharge. Imagine you played a super fun game and now you just need a little bit of time to take a break so that you can play it again. That's rest!

👶 For kids: Taking a break and not doing anything, like sleeping or sitting still.

More Examples

2

The doctor recommended complete rest.

3

The quiet of the forest provided a welcome rest.

How It's Used

General

"After a long day of work, I needed some rest."

Medical

"The doctor advised bed rest for the patient."

2

To be in a state of inactivity or relaxation; to cease from exertion or labor.

/rest/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To cease activity or movement; to relax or sleep.

The hikers rested by the river.

💡 Simply: When you rest, you are not doing anything. Imagine that you are feeling sleepy and you want to rest, so you go to sleep. It is like you are giving your body time to relax.

👶 For kids: To stop doing things and relax or sleep.

More Examples

2

He rested for a few hours after the race.

3

The weary traveler rested his head.

How It's Used

General

"I needed to rest after the long hike."

Medical

"The patient should rest for a few days."

Tip:Imagine yourself lying down and letting your body recover.
3

The remaining part or parts; what is left after a portion is taken or specified.

/rest/

nounneutralBeginner
Quantity

The remaining part; what is left over.

I will read the rest of the book later.

💡 Simply: Rest is what is left over after something has been taken away. Imagine you have a cake, and you eat one slice. The rest of the cake is what's left.

👶 For kids: The other part, or what's left.

More Examples

2

The rest of the team will arrive tomorrow.

3

We finished the appetizers, and the rest of the food will be served soon.

How It's Used

General

"The rest of the day was uneventful."

Mathematics

"The rest of the calculation is straightforward."

Tip:Think of the leftover items after you have eaten part of a meal.
4

Something that provides support or stability.

/rest/

nounneutralmedium
support

Support or stability for something.

The building's foundation provides a solid rest for the structure.

💡 Simply: Like a pillow that gives your head support, rest can also be something that gives something support or stability.

👶 For kids: Something that helps hold things up or keep them steady.

More Examples

2

The photographer used a rest to stabilize his camera.

3

The table offered a sturdy rest for the heavy plates.

How It's Used

Architecture

"The pillars provide a strong rest for the roof."

Mechanics

"Use the rest to support the barrel while you load it."

Tip:Think of a chair or a ledge, a place of support or stability.

Idioms & expressions

rest assured

To be certain or confident; to feel reassured.

"Rest assured, your package will arrive on time."

take a rest

To pause activity and relax.

"After the long hike, we decided to take a rest."

put to rest

To resolve or eliminate something, often a concern or a problem.

"The investigation finally put the rumors to rest."

From Old English *ræst* (noun), *restan* (verb), both from Proto-Germanic *ras-taz* (noun), *ras-tojan* (verb), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *res- meaning 'to be still, to rest'.

The word 'rest' has been used since Old English, appearing in texts to describe periods of inactivity and the cessation of labor.

Memory tip

Think of lying down and closing your eyes - this is rest.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to be still, to rest"

take a restcomplete restrest assuredrest onput to rest

Common misspellings

reastrestt

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written