Rest vs. Wrest — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 25, 2024
Rest involves ceasing work or movement to relax, while wrest means to forcibly pull something from a person's grasp.
Difference Between Rest and Wrest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rest is primarily about taking a break or pausing from physical or mental activities to recover strength and energy. Whereas, wrest involves using force to take something away from someone or something, often implying a struggle or effort.
In terms of usage, rest can be a verb or a noun, describing both the action of resting and the period during which one rests. On the other hand, wrest is always used as a verb, focusing on the act of forcefully taking or removing something.
The context of rest is usually peaceful and rejuvenating, aimed at relaxation and recuperation. In contrast, wrest is typically used in scenarios involving conflict or competition, where forceful action is required to gain possession.
People often rest by sleeping, lying down, or sitting quietly, actions associated with healing and tranquility. Whereas, to wrest often involves physical effort and struggle, such as wrestling an object from someone's hands or wresting control in a challenging situation.
Rest can be voluntary or necessary for health and well-being, often recommended as part of a routine to maintain balance. Wrest, however, implies an element of urgency or necessity, driven by the need to obtain or change something against resistance.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Verb
Connotation
Peaceful, recuperative
Aggressive, forceful
Action
Cease activity to relax
Forcefully pull away
Usage Context
Health, relaxation, sleep
Struggle, competition, conflict
Intention
Voluntary, for well-being
Driven by urgency or necessity
Compare with Definitions
Rest
Cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
After the long hike, they took a rest by the lakeside.
Wrest
Take (something, especially power or control) from someone or something else after considerable effort or difficulty.
They wrested control of the company from the founding family.
Rest
Allow to be inactive in order to regain strength or health.
You should rest your sprained ankle to avoid further injury.
Wrest
Obtain something only with great effort.
She wrested a victory from a situation that looked like certain defeat.
Rest
An object that supports something.
He placed the violin on the rest to adjust its strings.
Wrest
A violent twisting or pulling movement.
With a sharp wrest, he opened the stuck jar.
Rest
A pause or interval.
The music had a brief rest before the chorus resumed.
Wrest
Forcibly pull (something) from a person's grasp.
He managed to wrest the gun from the robber’s hands.
Rest
The remaining part of something.
The rest of the cake was stored in the refrigerator.
Wrest
Distort the meaning or interpretation of (something) to one's own advantage.
He accused the media of wresting his words out of context.
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
Wrest
Forcibly pull (something) from a person's grasp
Leila tried to wrest her arm from his hold
Rest
Be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position
Her elbow was resting on the arm of the sofa
Wrest
Distort the meaning or interpretation of (something) to suit one's own interests or views
You appear convinced of my guilt, and wrest every reply I have made
Rest
Be based on; depend on
The country's security rested on its alliances
Wrest
A key for tuning a harp or piano.
Rest
Conclude presentation of either party's case in a suit or prosecution
The prosecution rests
Wrest
To obtain or remove by pulling with twisting movements
Wrested the book out of his hands.
Rest
Remain or be left in a specified condition
You can rest assured she will do everything she can
Wrest
To take possession of forcefully; seize or usurp
Wrested the islands from the settlers.
Wrested power from the monarchy.
Rest
An instance or period of resting
A couple of days of complete rest
You look as though you need a rest
Wrest
To gain or extract with persistent effort; wring
Wrested concessions from their opponents.
Rest
An interval of silence of a specified duration.
Wrest
A small tuning key for the wrest pins of a stringed instrument.
Rest
An object that is used to support something
A shoulder rest
Wrest
(transitive) To pull or twist violently.
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
Wrest
(transitive) To obtain by pulling or violent force.
He wrested the remote control from my grasp and changed the channel.
Rest
A small, detached portion of an organ or tissue.
Wrest
To seize.
Rest
A rally in real tennis.
Wrest
To distort, to pervert, to twist.
Rest
A period of inactivity, relaxation, or sleep:The hikers stopped for a rest.
Wrest
To tune with a wrest, or key.
Rest
Sleep or the refreshment resulting from inactivity or sleep:Get plenty of rest before the race.
Wrest
The act of wresting; a wrench or twist; distortion.
Rest
Mental or emotional calm:The news put my mind at rest.
Wrest
(music) A key to tune a stringed instrument.
Rest
The state of being motionless; the absence of motion:The car accelerates quickly from a state of rest.
Wrest
(obsolete) Active or motive power.
Rest
The condition of being settled or resolved:a remark that put the matter to rest.
Wrest
; a saw set.
Rest
An interval of silence corresponding to one of the possible time values within a measure.
Wrest
A partition in a water wheel by which the form of the buckets is determined.
Rest
The mark or symbol indicating such a pause and its length.
Wrest
A metal (formerly wooden) piece of some ploughs attached under the mouldboard (the curved blade that turns over the furrow) for clearing out the furrow; the mouldboard itself.
Rest
A short pause in a line of poetry; a caesura.
Wrest
To turn; to twist; esp., to twist or extort by violence; to pull of force away by, or as if by, violent wringing or twisting.
Our country's cause,That drew our swords, now secret wrests them from our hand.
They instantly wrested the government out of the hands of Hastings.
Rest
A device used as a support:a back rest.
Wrest
To turn from truth; to twist from its natural or proper use or meaning by violence; to pervert; to distort.
Wrest once the law to your authority.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor.
Their arts of wresting, corrupting, and false interpreting the holy text.
Rest
(Games)See bridge1.
Wrest
To tune with a wrest, or key.
Rest
The part that is left over after something has been removed; remainder.
Wrest
The act of wresting; a wrench; a violent twist; hence, distortion; perversion.
Rest
That or those remaining
The beginning was boring, but the rest was interesting. The rest are arriving later.
Wrest
Active or moving power.
Rest
A support for a lance on the side of the breastplate of medieval armor.
Wrest
A key to tune a stringed instrument of music.
The minstrel . . . wore round his neck a silver chain, by which hung the wrest, or key, with which he tuned his harp.
Rest
To cease motion, work, or activity, especially in order to become refreshed:The laborers rested in the shade.
Wrest
A partition in a water wheel, by which the form of the buckets is determined.
Rest
To lie down and sleep:rested for an hour on the couch.
Wrest
Obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically;
Wrest the knife from his hands
Wrest a meaning from the old text
Wrest power from the old government
Rest
To be in or come to a motionless state:The can rolled along, finally resting when it hit the curb.
Rest
To be located or be in a specified place:The manuscript rests in the museum.
Rest
To be fixed or directed on something:His gaze rested on the necklace.
Rest
To be unchanged or unresolved:After arguing for an hour, we let the matter rest.
Rest
To be supported or based; lie, lean, or sit:The ladder rests firmly anst the tree.
Rest
To be imposed or vested, as a responsibility or burden:The final decision rests with the crperson.
Rest
To depend or rely:That argument rests on a false assumption.
Rest
(Law)To complete the n presentation of one's portion of a legal case:The defense rests.
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.
Rest
To place, lay, or lean, as for support or repose:rested the rake anst the fence.
Rest
To base or ground:I rested my conclusion on that fact.
Rest
To fix or direct (the gaze, for example).
Rest
(Law)To complete the n presentation of (one's portion of a case):The prosecutor was not ready to rest her case.
Rest
To be or continue to be; remain
Rest assured that we will finish on time.
Rest
To remain or be left over.
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.
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 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 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
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
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
How are rest and wrest different in usage?
Rest can be used as both a verb and a noun, denoting peace and recovery, whereas wrest is a verb associated with forceful action.
What does rest mean in terms of physical health?
Rest is crucial for physical health as it allows the body to repair and strengthen itself.
Is wrest always associated with physical force?
No, wrest can also refer to using considerable effort in non-physical contexts, like wresting control of a situation.
What are the implications of using 'wrest' in a legal or business context?
In legal or business contexts, 'wrest' often implies a forceful or aggressive maneuver to gain control, power, or rights, sometimes suggesting a difficult or contentious process.
Can 'rest' be used metaphorically?
Yes, 'rest' can be used metaphorically to imply peace or cessation in various scenarios, such as "resting one's case" in legal terms, or finding "rest" in a peaceful setting.
Is 'wrest' used in sports, and if so, how?
Yes, 'wrest' is used in sports to describe actions where players forcibly take or gain control of the ball or position, particularly in wrestling where the term is directly related to the sport's physical struggle.
How do the dynamics of 'rest' and 'wrest' differ in narrative and literature?
In narrative and literature, 'rest' often symbolizes tranquility, pause, or conclusion, whereas 'wrest' can symbolize conflict, challenge, or a pivotal struggle within the plot.
Are there any idiomatic expressions involving 'rest' or 'wrest'?
For 'rest', idiomatic expressions include "give it a rest" (stop talking about something) and "rest assured" (be certain). For 'wrest', expressions are less common but might include "wrest away" (to take away by force).
Can rest be used in different contexts?
Yes, rest can refer to physical relaxation, a pause in activity, or the remaining parts of something.
How is the word 'rest' commonly used in everyday language?
'Rest' is commonly used to describe taking a break from activities, resting after work, or referring to relaxation and sleep periods.
What is the role of 'rest' in physical training or sports?
In physical training, rest is essential for muscle recovery, preventing injury, and enhancing performance, emphasizing its role in maintaining overall athletic health.
What does it mean to wrest control of something?
To wrest control means to seize power or authority from another, typically through force or struggle.
Can 'wrest' be associated with positive outcomes?
While typically associated with struggle, 'wrest' can have positive outcomes, such as wresting victory from the jaws of defeat, where the end justifies the difficult means.
How do 'rest' and 'wrest' function in poetry or figurative language?
In poetry, 'rest' can symbolize silence or a pause in rhythm, while 'wrest' may be used to convey the effort or conflict involved in overcoming emotional or existential challenges.
What are the emotional connotations of 'rest' and 'wrest'?
'Rest' typically carries positive and calming connotations associated with relaxation and recovery, while 'wrest' often conveys struggle, effort, and sometimes negativity due to the forceful actions involved.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
