What is rest? Pronunciation and usage in English

rest means . Learn how to pronounce and use rest through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of rest

restverb/noun

/rɛst/
Definition & pronunciation of rest

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "rest" in English. Here's a breakdown with different approaches:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • Sounds: /rɛst/

  • Breakdown:

    • "re" - pronounced like the "re" in "red" (a short, quick "eh" sound)
    • "st" - pronounced as a single syllable, with a "t" sound. It's not a stressed "st" sound like in "best."

  • Putting it together: Think of a slightly elongated "eh" followed by a quick "t". It’s a smooth, connected sound.

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • Sounds: /rɛst/ (very similar to American)
  • However: British speakers often pronounce the "r" in "rest" – so it sounds more like /rɛstər/. This is less common in American English, but it's perfectly acceptable in the UK.

Tips for getting it right:

  • Don't overemphasize the "st": This is the most common mistake. Keep it a single, blended syllable.
  • Listen to native speakers: The best way to learn is to hear it pronounced correctly. You can easily find examples on:
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/rest/ (This site has pronunciations from native speakers of different accents.)
    • Google Translate: Type "rest" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
    • YouTube: Search for "how to pronounce 'rest' in English."

Resources for practice:

  • YouGlish: https://youglish.com/ – Type in "rest" and it will show you how it’s pronounced in real-world videos.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of English accent are you trying to learn? (e.g., American, British, Australian, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word rest in English

Let's break down how to use the word "rest" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. As a Verb (Action):

  • To Relax/Take a Break: This is probably the most common usage.
    • “I need to rest after a long day.”
    • "Let's rest for a few minutes and have some tea."
    • "She rested on the sofa, reading a book."
  • To Lie Down (for sleep or relaxation):
    • “He rested his head on the pillow.”
    • "The baby was resting peacefully in her crib."
  • To Stop Working (Temporarily): Often used in the context of a task.
    • "The workers rested for lunch."
    • "The machine needs to rest before being repaired."
  • To Support Something (physically):
    • "He rested his arm on the table."
    • "The climber rested against the rock face."
  • To Be Remaining (after something is used up or removed):
    • "There's only a little rest of the cake left." (meaning, little leftover)
    • “The building rested on a solid foundation.” (meaning, was based on)
  • To Restore (to make something whole again):
    • "The doctor prescribed rest to help her recover."
    • "The storm damaged the house, but thankfully, it was restored.”

2. As a Noun (Thing):

  • Time to Relax: The most common noun meaning.
    • "I need a good rest."
    • “He took a long rest on the beach.”
  • A Period of Sleep:
    • “She had a deep rest.”
  • A Support (for something heavy):
    • “He placed a rest under the stack of books.”
  • A Portion Remaining (of food or drink):
    • “There’s only a little rest of the wine left.”
  • A Pause or Interruption: (Less common, but can be used)
    • “There was a brief rest in the meeting.”
  • A Piece of Furniture (for supporting the back):
    • "He leaned against the rest of the chair."

3. Phrases with "Rest":

  • At rest: Meaning peacefully; asleep. "The patient was at rest."
  • Rest assured: Meaning “don’t worry.” “Rest assured, your package will arrive tomorrow.”
  • Rest up: Meaning “get some rest.” “Rest up before the big game.”
  • Rest easy: Meaning “relax; don’t worry.” “Rest easy, everything will be okay.”
  • Restitution: Compensation for loss or injury. “He sought restitution for the damage.”

Tips for Using “Rest” Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of “rest” changes depending on how it's used in a sentence.
  • Consider the verb vs. noun form: Make sure you're using the correct form of the word.
  • Synonyms: If you’re struggling, consider synonyms like “relax,” “sleep,” “recover,” or “support.”

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you hoping to do with the word "rest"? (e.g., write a story, have a conversation, understand a specific sentence?)
  • Is there a particular situation where you're trying to use "rest" that you're unsure about?

Synonyms for the word rest

Idioms of the word rest

and (all) the rest (of it)
(informal)used at the end of a list to mean everything else that you might expect to be on the list
  • He wants a big house and an expensive car and all the rest of it.
and the rest
(informal)used to say that the actual amount or number of something is much higher than somebody has stated
  • ‘It cost 250 pounds…’ ‘And the rest, and the rest!’
at rest
(specialist)not moving
  • At rest the insect looks like a dead leaf.
dead and therefore free from trouble or worry. People say ‘at rest’ to avoid saying ‘dead’.
  • She now lies at rest in the churchyard.
come to rest
to stop moving
  • The car crashed through the barrier and came to rest in a field.
  • His eyes came to rest on Clara's face.
  • The ball rolled down the hill and came to rest against a tree.
for the rest
(British English, formal)apart from that; considering other matters
  • The book has some interesting passages about the author's childhood. For the rest, it is extremely dull.
give it a rest
(informal)used to tell somebody to stop talking about something because they are annoying you
  • Give it a rest! You’ve been complaining all day.
give something a rest
(informal)to stop doing something for a while
    lay somebody to rest
    to bury somebody. People say ‘to lay somebody to rest’ to avoid saying ‘to bury’ somebody.
    • George was laid to rest beside his parents.
    lay/put something to rest
    to stop something by showing it is not true
    • The announcement finally laid all the speculation about their future to rest.
    (there’s) no peace/rest for the wicked
    (usually humorous)used when somebody is complaining that they have a lot of work to do
      put/set somebody’s mind at ease/rest
      to do or say something to make somebody stop worrying about something
        the rest is history
        used when you are telling a story to say that you do not need to tell the end of it, because everyone knows it already

          Practice with vocabulary rest

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. After a strenuous week, I'm looking forward to a period of complete _____.
          2. The project budget was largely allocated to equipment, with the _____ reserved for operational expenses.
          3. During the marathon, athletes usually take a brief water _____ at designated stations.
          4. The consultant recommended several strategies to _____ the team's overall productivity.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (select all that apply)

          1. After several intense negotiation rounds, the team decided to _____ before making a final decision.
            • A) take a rest
            • B) postpone the discussion
            • C) take a breather
            • D) review the agenda
          2. After securing initial funding, the startup team focused on developing the core product, leaving _____ to be addressed in later stages.
            • A) the rest of the features
            • B) the secondary functionalities
            • C) the remaining aspects
            • D) the future considerations
          3. To maintain peak performance, athletes must prioritize adequate _____ between training sessions.
            • A) rest
            • B) relaxation
            • C) recovery
            • D) exercise
          4. During the unexpected power outage, all factory operations came to a complete _____.
            • A) halt
            • B) break
            • C) stoppage
            • D) intermission
          5. The doctor strongly advised the patient to get at least eight hours of _____ every night for a faster recovery.
            • A) sleep
            • B) repose
            • C) slumber
            • D) inactivity

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. The strenuous fieldwork required participants to frequently take short breaks. (Rewrite using a form of "rest")
          2. We've completed the initial phase of the research; the remaining sections will be addressed in the next quarter. (Rewrite using "rest")
          3. The doctor recommended that the patient get ample rest after the surgery for a quicker recovery. (Rewrite using a suitable replacement for "rest")

          Answer Key

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. rest
          2. rest
          3. break
          4. improve (or enhance)

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. A) take a rest, C) take a breather
          2. A) the rest of the features, C) the remaining aspects
          3. A) rest, B) relaxation, C) recovery
          4. A) halt, C) stoppage
          5. A) sleep, B) repose, C) slumber

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. The strenuous fieldwork required participants to frequently rest for short periods. (Alternative: The strenuous fieldwork required participants to take frequent rests.)
          2. We've completed the initial phase of the research; the rest will be addressed in the next quarter.
          3. The doctor recommended that the patient get ample sleep after the surgery for a quicker recovery.

          Comment ()