Repose vs. Rest — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 27, 2024
Repose involves relaxation and tranquility, typically implying a passive or serene state, while rest is broader, encompassing any cessation of activity to recover strength.
Difference Between Repose and Rest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Repose often suggests a state of being peacefully at ease, typically involving minimal physical activity, ideal for rejuvenation of the mind and spirit. Whereas, rest can refer to any pause in activity, necessary for physical or mental recovery, and does not inherently carry a tranquil connotation.
During repose, one might be engaged in stillness or light activities that promote calm, such as meditation or light reading. On the other hand, rest could be as simple as sitting down after standing for a long time or sleeping after a day’s work, focusing more on relieving tiredness than achieving serenity.
Repose is frequently used in a figurative or poetic context to emphasize the quality of peace, often related to sleep or the act of lying down in a quiet environment. Rest, however, is a more utilitarian term, applicable to various situations and activities that interrupt continuous exertion to avoid fatigue.
The term repose can also imply a final, eternal rest, often associated with death, suggesting a lasting peace. Conversely, rest is temporary and cyclical, essential for maintaining everyday functionality and health.
In literature and art, repose is depicted as an idyllic form, often romanticized or idealized to evoke depth and emotion. Rest, while it can also be portrayed positively, is more commonly shown in a straightforward, practical light, emphasizing its necessity.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
State of rest, especially peaceful or tranquil
Cessation of work or movement to recover energy
Usage
More poetic, less common
Widespread, utilitarian
Connotation
Peace, tranquility, finality
Recovery, pause, temporary
Common contexts
Meditation, death
Sleep, breaks, relaxation
Figurative use
Often used to imply eternal peace
Used in practical, everyday contexts
Compare with Definitions
Repose
A state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.
The garden offered a perfect spot for repose after lunch.
Rest
Cessation from action or motion.
He needed some rest after the three-mile run.
Repose
The absence of stress or movement.
The lake was in complete repose under the moonlight.
Rest
Relief or freedom from something that wearies or disturbs.
The vacation provided a much-needed rest from the hectic office life.
Repose
A lie down or pause in activity for relaxation.
She took a moment of repose before the evening festivities.
Rest
A pause for recovery or regeneration.
The doctor recommended more rest for quicker recovery.
Repose
Eternal rest; often referring to death.
The inscription spoke of eternal repose.
Rest
A support for holding something in place.
The violinist placed her instrument on the shoulder rest.
Repose
Artistic or literary depiction of peacefulness.
The painting captured the repose of a sleeping child.
Rest
Remaining portion or what is left.
She packed the rest of the cookies for later.
Repose
A state of rest, sleep, or tranquillity
In repose her face looked relaxed
Rest
Cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep, or recover strength
He needed to rest after the feverish activity
I'm going to rest up before travelling to England
Repose
Be situated or kept in a particular place
The diamond now reposes in the Louvre
Rest
Be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position
Her elbow was resting on the arm of the sofa
Repose
Place something, especially one's confidence or trust, in
We have never betrayed the trust that you have reposed in us
Rest
Be based on; depend on
The country's security rested on its alliances
Repose
The act of resting or the state of being at rest.
Rest
Conclude presentation of either party's case in a suit or prosecution
The prosecution rests
Repose
Freedom from worry; peace of mind.
Rest
Remain or be left in a specified condition
You can rest assured she will do everything she can
Repose
Calmness; tranquility.
Rest
An instance or period of resting
A couple of days of complete rest
You look as though you need a rest
Repose
To lay (oneself) down.
Rest
An interval of silence of a specified duration.
Repose
To rest or relax (oneself).
Rest
An object that is used to support something
A shoulder rest
Repose
To lie at rest.
Rest
The remaining part of something
What do you want to do for the rest of your life?
I'll tell you the rest tomorrow night
Repose
To lie dead
Repose in a grave.
Rest
A small, detached portion of an organ or tissue.
Repose
To lie while being supported by something.
Rest
A rally in real tennis.
Repose
To place (trust, for example)
Reposed all his hopes in the new cure.
Rest
A period of inactivity, relaxation, or sleep:The hikers stopped for a rest.
Repose
(dated) Rest; sleep.
Rest
Sleep or the refreshment resulting from inactivity or sleep:Get plenty of rest before the race.
Repose
Quietness; ease; peace; calmness.
Rest
The repose of death:eternal rest.
Repose
(geology) The period between eruptions of a volcano.
Rest
Mental or emotional calm:The news put my mind at rest.
Repose
(art) A form of visual harmony that gives rest to the eye.
Rest
The state of being motionless; the absence of motion:The car accelerates quickly from a state of rest.
Repose
(intransitive) To lie at rest; to rest.
Rest
The condition of being settled or resolved:a remark that put the matter to rest.
Repose
(intransitive) To lie; to be supported.
Trap reposing on sand
Rest
An interval of silence corresponding to one of the possible time values within a measure.
Repose
(transitive) To lay, to set down.
Rest
The mark or symbol indicating such a pause and its length.
Repose
(transitive) To place, have, or rest; to set; to entrust.
Rest
A short pause in a line of poetry; a caesura.
Repose
(transitive) To compose; to make tranquil.
Rest
A device used as a support:a back rest.
Repose
(intransitive) To reside in something.
Rest
(Games)See bridge1.
Repose
To remain or abide restfully without anxiety or alarms.
Rest
The part that is left over after something has been removed; remainder.
Repose
To die, especially of a saint.
Simon reposed in the year 1287.
Rest
That or those remaining
The beginning was boring, but the rest was interesting. The rest are arriving later.
Repose
(transitive) To pose again.
Rest
A support for a lance on the side of the breastplate of medieval armor.
Repose
To cause to stop or to rest after motion; hence, to deposit; to lay down; to lodge; to reposit.
But these thy fortunes let us straight reposeIn this divine cave's bosom.
Pebbles reposed in those cliffs amongst the earth . . . are left behind.
Rest
To cease motion, work, or activity, especially in order to become refreshed:The laborers rested in the shade.
Repose
To lay at rest; to cause to be calm or quiet; to compose; to rest, - often reflexive; as, to repose one's self on a couch.
All being settled and reposed, the lord archbishop did present his majesty to the lords and commons.
After the toil of battle to reposeYour wearied virtue.
Rest
To lie down and sleep:rested for an hour on the couch.
Repose
To place, have, or rest; to set; to intrust.
The king reposeth all his confidence in thee.
Rest
To be in or come to a motionless state:The can rolled along, finally resting when it hit the curb.
Repose
To lie at rest; to rest.
Within a thicket I reposed.
Rest
To be located or be in a specified place:The manuscript rests in the museum.
Repose
Figuratively, to remain or abide restfully without anxiety or alarms.
It is upon these that the soul may repose.
Rest
To be fixed or directed on something:His gaze rested on the necklace.
Repose
To lie; to be supported; as, trap reposing on sand.
Rest
To be unchanged or unresolved:After arguing for an hour, we let the matter rest.
Repose
A lying at rest; sleep; rest; quiet.
Shake off the golden slumber of repose.
Rest
To be supported or based; lie, lean, or sit:The ladder rests firmly anst the tree.
Repose
Rest of mind; tranquillity; freedom from uneasiness; also, a composed manner or deportment.
Rest
To be imposed or vested, as a responsibility or burden:The final decision rests with the crperson.
Repose
A rest; a pause.
Rest
To depend or rely:That argument rests on a false assumption.
Repose
That harmony or moderation which affords rest for the eye; - opposed to the scattering and division of a subject into too many unconnected parts, and also to anything which is overstrained; as, a painting may want repose.
Rest
(Law)To complete the n presentation of one's portion of a legal case:The defense rests.
Repose
Freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility);
Took his repose by the swimming pool
Rest
To cause or allow to be inactive or relaxed so as to ren energy:The coach rested his best players. I rested my eyes before studying.
Repose
The absence of mental stress or anxiety
Rest
To place, lay, or lean, as for support or repose:rested the rake anst the fence.
Repose
A disposition free from stress or emotion
Rest
To base or ground:I rested my conclusion on that fact.
Repose
Put or confide something in a person or thing;
These philosophers reposed the law in the people
Rest
To fix or direct (the gaze, for example).
Repose
Be inherent or innate in;
Rest
(Law)To complete the n presentation of (one's portion of a case):The prosecutor was not ready to rest her case.
Repose
Lie when dead;
Mao reposes in his mausoleum
Rest
To be or continue to be; remain
Rest assured that we will finish on time.
Repose
Lean in a comfortable resting position;
He was reposing on the couch
Rest
To remain or be left over.
Repose
Put in a horizontal position;
Lay the books on the table
Lay the patient carefully onto the bed
Rest
Relief from work or activity by sleeping; sleep.
I need to get a good rest tonight; I was up late last night.
The sun sets, and the workers go to their rest.
Repose
To put something (eg trust) in something;
The nation reposed its confidence in the King
Rest
(countable) Any relief from exertion; a state of quiet and relaxation.
We took a rest at the top of the hill to get our breath back.
Rest
(uncountable) Peace; freedom from worry, anxiety, annoyances; tranquility.
It was nice to have a rest from the phone ringing when I unplugged it for a while.
Rest
A state of inactivity; a state of little or no motion; a state of completion.
The boulder came to rest just behind the house after rolling down the mountain.
The ocean was finally at rest.
Now that we're all in agreement, we can put that issue to rest.
Rest
A final position after death.
She was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
Rest
A pause of a specified length in a piece of music.
Remember there's a rest at the end of the fourth bar.
Rest
A written symbol indicating such a pause in a musical score such as in sheet music.
Rest
Absence of motion.
The body's centre of gravity may affect its state of rest.
Rest
A stick with a U-, V- or X-shaped head used to support the tip of a cue when the cue ball is otherwise out of reach.
Higgins can't quite reach the white with his cue, so he'll be using the rest.
Rest
(countable) Any object designed to be used to support something else.
She put the phone receiver back in its rest.
He placed his hands on the arm rests of the chair.
Rest
A projection from the right side of the cuirass of armour, serving to support the lance.
Rest
A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an inn, or permanently, as, in an abode.
Rest
(poetry) A short pause in reading poetry; a caesura.
Rest
The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a running account. Often, specifically, the intervals after which compound interest is added to capital.
Rest
(dated) A set or game at tennis.
Rest
(uncountable) That which remains.
She ate some of the food, but was not hungry enough to eat it all, so she put the rest in the refrigerator to finish later.
Rest
Those not included in a proposition or description; the remainder; others.
Rest
A surplus held as a reserved fund by a bank to equalize its dividends, etc.; in the Bank of England, the balance of assets above liabilities.
Rest
(intransitive) To cease from action, motion, work, or performance of any kind; stop; desist; be without motion.
Rest
(intransitive) To come to a pause or an end; end.
Rest
(intransitive) To be free from that which harasses or disturbs; be quiet or still; be undisturbed.
Rest
To be or to put into a state of rest.
My day's work is over; now I will rest.
We need to rest the horses before we ride any further.
I shall not rest until I have uncovered the truth.
Rest
(intransitive) To stay, remain, be situated.
The blame seems to rest with your father.
Rest
To lean, lie, or lay.
A column rests on its pedestal.
I rested my head in my hands.
She rested against my shoulder.
I rested against the wall for a minute.
Rest
To complete one's active advocacy in a trial or other proceeding, and thus to wait for the outcome (however, one is still generally available to answer questions, etc.)
The defense rests, your Honor.
I rest my case.
Rest
(intransitive) To sleep; slumber.
Rest
(intransitive) To lie dormant.
Rest
(intransitive) To sleep the final sleep; sleep in death; die; be dead.
Rest
(intransitive) To rely or depend on.
The decision rests on getting a bank loan.
Rest
To be satisfied; to acquiesce.
Rest
To continue to be, remain, be left in a certain way.
You can rest assured that a sick child will say when it's again ready to eat, so it won't starve and doesn't need to be cajoled into eating.
Rest
To keep a certain way.
Rest
To arrest.
Rest
To arrest.
Rest
To cease from action or motion, especially from action which has caused weariness; to desist from labor or exertion.
God . . . rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest.
Rest
To be free from whanever wearies or disturbs; to be quiet or still.
There rest, if any rest can harbor there.
Rest
To lie; to repose; to recline; to lan; as, to rest on a couch.
Rest
To stand firm; to be fixed; to be supported; as, a column rests on its pedestal.
Rest
To sleep; to slumber; hence, poetically, to be dead.
Fancy . . . then retriesInto her private cell when Nature rests.
Rest
To lean in confidence; to trust; to rely; to repose without anxiety; as, to rest on a man's promise.
On him I rested, after long debate,And not without considering, fixed fate.
Rest
To be satisfied; to acquiesce.
To rest in Heaven's determination.
Rest
To lay or place at rest; to quiet.
Your piety has paidAll needful rites, to rest my wandering shade.
Rest
To place, as on a support; to cause to lean.
Her weary head upon your bosom rest.
Rest
To be left; to remain; to continue to be.
The affairs of men rest still uncertain.
Rest
A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind.
Sleep give thee all his rest!
Rest
Hence, freedom from everything which wearies or disturbs; peace; security.
And the land had rest fourscore years.
Rest
Sleep; slumber; hence, poetically, death.
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,By all their country's wishes blest.
Rest
That on which anything rests or leans for support; as, a rest in a lathe, for supporting the cutting tool or steadying the work.
He made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
Rest
A projection from the right side of the cuirass, serving to support the lance.
Their visors closed, their lances in the rest.
Rest
A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an inn, or permanently, as, in an abode.
In dust our final rest, and native home.
Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you.
Rest
A short pause in reading verse; a cæsura.
Rest
The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a running account.
Rest
A set or game at tennis.
Rest
Silence in music or in one of its parts; the name of the character that stands for such silence. They are named as notes are, whole, half, quarter,etc.
Rest
That which is left, or which remains after the separation of a part, either in fact or in contemplation; remainder; residue.
Religion gives part of its reward in hand, the present comfort of having done our duty, and, for the rest, it offers us the best security that Heaven can give.
Rest
Those not included in a proposition or description; the remainder; others.
Armed like the rest, the Trojan prince appears.
Rest
A surplus held as a reserved fund by a bank to equalize its dividends, etc.; in the Bank of England, the balance of assets above liabilities.
Rest
Something left after other parts have been taken away;
There was no remainder
He threw away the rest
He took what he wanted and I got the balance
Rest
Freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility);
Took his repose by the swimming pool
Rest
A pause for relaxation;
People actually accomplish more when they take time for short rests
Rest
A state of inaction;
A body will continue in a state of rest until acted upon
Rest
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
Rest
A support on which things can be put;
The gun was steadied on a special rest
Rest
A musical notation indicating a silence of a specified duration
Rest
Not move; be in a resting position
Rest
Take a short break from one's activities in order to relax
Rest
Give a rest to;
He rested his bad leg
Rest the dogs for a moment
Rest
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
Rest
Be at rest
Rest
Stay the same; remain in a certain state;
The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
Rest assured
Stay alone
He remained unmoved by her tears
The bad weather continued for another week
Rest
Be inherent or innate in;
Rest
Put something in a resting position, as for support or steadying;
Rest your head on my shoulder
Rest
Sit, as on a branch;
The birds perched high in the treee
Rest
Rest on or as if on a pillow;
Pillow your head
Rest
Be inactive, refrain from acting;
The committee is resting over the summer
Common Curiosities
Can rest be active?
Yes, active rest involves engaging in light, non-strenuous activities to promote recovery.
What is repose used to imply in a literary sense?
In literature, repose is often used to convey a deep sense of peace or tranquility.
Is it correct to use repose in reference to a short nap?
Yes, repose can be used to describe a short, peaceful nap.
What differentiates rest in a medical context?
In a medical context, rest is prescribed to facilitate healing and recovery from illness or injury.
How does the concept of repose relate to meditation?
Repose and meditation share a focus on tranquility and mental calmness.
Does repose have a religious or spiritual significance?
Yes, repose can imply a spiritual restfulness or eternal peace, often in the context of death.
Is there a difference in urgency between repose and rest?
Rest is often more immediately necessary for health, while repose suggests a more leisurely, optional tranquility.
Is repose ever used in a negative sense?
Typically, repose is not used negatively and maintains a positive connotation of peace.
What types of activities constitute repose?
Activities like lying quietly, gentle stretching, or relaxing in a serene environment can constitute repose.
How is rest essential for physical health?
Regular rest periods are essential for physical health as they allow the body to repair and regenerate.
Can rest imply inactivity?
Yes, rest often implies a halt in physical activity to recover energy.
What is the role of rest in mental health?
Rest plays a critical role in mental health by reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being.
How can rest be optimized to improve effectiveness?
Effective rest can be optimized by ensuring a quiet, comfortable environment and managing time wisely to include regular intervals.
Can repose be used interchangeably with sleep?
While repose can involve sleep, it specifically suggests peaceful or tranquil sleep.
How do different cultures view rest?
Cultural views on rest vary, with some emphasizing its necessity and others viewing it as a luxury.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
