3rest verb
rests; rest·ed; rest·ing 1 [no obj] : to stop doing work or an activity
▪ We will not rest until we discover the truth. : to spend time relaxing, sleeping, or doing nothing after you have been active or doing work ▪ The workers were resting in the shade. ▪ They expect to rest [=relax] while on vacation. ▪ He is resting comfortably after his ordeal. ▪ She went to her room to rest for a while. 2 [+ obj] a : to give rest to (someone)
▪ The coach canceled practice to rest his team. ▪ May God rest her soul. [=I pray that God will give her soul peace now that she has died]
b : to stop using (something) so that it can become strong again
▪ He rested his horse before continuing the journey. ▪ You should rest your eyes after all that reading. ▪ The pitcher needs to rest his arm. 3 always followed by an adverb or preposition a [no obj] : to sit or lie on something
▪ The spoon was resting in the cup. ▪ The house rests on a concrete foundation. — often used figuratively ▪ The real authority rests with the committee. ▪ The blame rests (solely) on/with me. [=I am to blame; I am responsible for what happened]
b [+ obj] : to place (something) on or against something else
▪ He rested his hand on her shoulder. ▪ She rested her bike against a tree. ▪ He rested his chin in his hands. ▪ Don't rest your elbows on the table. 4 [no obj] : to lie in a grave after death
▪ My grandfather rests [=is buried] next to my grandmother. ▪ May she rest in peace. [=may she have peace in her death] 5 : to stop presenting evidence in a legal case [no obj] ▪ The defense rests, Your Honor. [+ obj] ▪ The defense rested its case. — see also I rest my case at 1case
▪ We will not rest until we discover the truth. : to spend time relaxing, sleeping, or doing nothing after you have been active or doing work ▪ The workers were resting in the shade. ▪ They expect to rest [=relax] while on vacation. ▪ He is resting comfortably after his ordeal. ▪ She went to her room to rest for a while.
▪ The coach canceled practice to rest his team. ▪ May God rest her soul. [=I pray that God will give her soul peace now that she has died]
b : to stop using (something) so that it can become strong again
▪ He rested his horse before continuing the journey. ▪ You should rest your eyes after all that reading. ▪ The pitcher needs to rest his arm.
▪ The spoon was resting in the cup. ▪ The house rests on a concrete foundation. — often used figuratively ▪ The real authority rests with the committee. ▪ The blame rests (solely) on/with me. [=I am to blame; I am responsible for what happened]
b [+ obj] : to place (something) on or against something else
▪ He rested his hand on her shoulder. ▪ She rested her bike against a tree. ▪ He rested his chin in his hands. ▪ Don't rest your elbows on the table.
▪ My grandfather rests [=is buried] next to my grandmother. ▪ May she rest in peace. [=may she have peace in her death]
let (something) rest
: to stop mentioning or talking about (something)
▪ You just won't let this rest, will you? ▪ They told them their decision, but he won't let the matter rest.
▪ You just won't let this rest, will you? ▪ They told them their decision, but he won't let the matter rest.
rest easy
: to stop worrying about something : to not worry about something
▪ I can rest easy knowing that he will be in charge.
▪ I can rest easy knowing that he will be in charge.
rest on/upon [phrasal verb] 1 rest on/upon (someone or something) a : to depend or rely on (someone or something)
▪ All our hopes rested on one man.
b : to stop moving and look at (someone or something)
▪ His eyes/gaze rested on the letter. 2 rest on/upon (something) : to be based on (something)
▪ His theory rested upon two important pieces of evidence.
▪ All our hopes rested on one man.
b : to stop moving and look at (someone or something)
▪ His eyes/gaze rested on the letter.
▪ His theory rested upon two important pieces of evidence.
rest on your laurels — see laurel
rest with [phrasal verb]
rest with (someone or something) : to be the responsibility of (someone or something)
▪ The final decision rests with you.
▪ The final decision rests with you.
