Repose

/ɹɪˈpəʊz/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep.
  • Grammar: repose is listed as noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: quiet, rest, abide, abide in.
  • Useful contrasts: activate, activity, agitation.
  • Usage evidence: His brief repose was interrupted by her arrival.

How to use "repose"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "repose" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "repose" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "repose" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "repose" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "repose" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "quiet" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "repose", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep. uncountable

    "So forth ſhe rode vvithout repoſe or reſt, / Searching all lands and each remoteſt part, […]"

  2. 2
    freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility) wordnet
  3. 3
    Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep.; Of the Virgin Mary: death; also assumption into heaven. broadly, uncountable
  4. 4
    a disposition free from stress or emotion wordnet
  5. 5
    Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep.; The festival honouring the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven, celebrated on August 15. broadly, countable
Show 14 more definitions
  1. 6
    the absence of mental stress or anxiety wordnet
  2. 7
    The state of being peacefully inactive or relaxed, or being free from disturbances or worries; calmness, ease, peace, quietness. uncountable

    "[T]he Felicity of this life, conſiſteth not in the repoſe of a mind ſatisfied."

  3. 8
    Calmness of the mind or temperament; composure. uncountable

    "But lord! she goes with so blithe a repose, / And comes so shapely about you, / That ere you're aware, with a glance and an air, / She whisks your heart from out you."

  4. 9
    Of the face, a muscle, etc.: the state of being relaxed and not in tension. uncountable

    "In repose the faces of the men were intelligent and dignified, those of the women ofttimes prepossessing."

  5. 10
    The state of lying still and unmoving; calmness, tranquillity; (countable) an instance of this. uncountable

    "But o'er the tvvilight groves, and dusky caves, / Long-ſounding iſles, and intermingled graves, / Black Melancholy ſits, and round her throvvs / A death-like ſilence, and a dread repose: […]"

  6. 11
    Relief or respite from something exhausting or unpleasant; (countable) an instance of this. archaic, uncountable

    "O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repoſe, / My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I ſee / Thy face, […]"

  7. 12
    Confidence, faith, or trust in something. archaic, uncountable
  8. 13
    The arrangement of elements of an artwork, a building, etc., that is restful and soothing to a viewer; harmony. uncountable

    "VVe are to take occaſion as much as poſſibly vve can, […] to find the repoſe of vvhich vve ſpeak, by the Light and by the Shadovv, vvhich naturally accompany ſolid Bodies."

  9. 14
    The state of leaving something alone or untouched; (countable) an instance of this. uncountable
  10. 15
    Chiefly in the form point of repose, position of repose, etc.: absence of motion; equilibrium; (countable) a position where an object is not moving and at rest. uncountable
  11. 16
    Of a natural phenomenon, especially the eruption of a volcano: the state of temporary cessation of activity; dormancy, quiescence. uncountable

    "VVhile proudly riding o'er the azure realm / In gallant trim the gilded Veſſel goes; / Youth on the provv, and Pleaſure at the helm; / Regardleſs of the ſvveeping VVhirlvvind's ſvvay, / That, huſh'd in grim repoſe, expects his evening-prey."

  12. 17
    A piece of furniture on which one can rest, especially a couch or sofa. countable, obsolete

    "[S]he lay expecting her coming Lover, on a repoſe of rich Embroidery of Gold on blevv Sattin, […]"

  13. 18
    A place of rest. countable, obsolete

    "[W]orſt is my Port, / My harbour and my ultimate repoſe, / The end I vvould attain, my final good."

  14. 19
    The technique of including in a painting an area or areas which are dark, indistinct, or soft in tone so that other areas are more prominent, or so that a viewer can rest they eyes when looking at them; (countable) such an area of a painting. obsolete, uncountable

    "[A]fter the great Lights, there muſt be great Shadovvs, vvhich vve call repoſes: becauſe in reality the Sight vvould be tired, if it vvere attracted by a Continuity of glittering objects. […] Theſe repoſes are made tvvo ſeveral vvays, one of vvhich is Natural, the other Artificial. The Natural is made by an extent of Lights or of Shadovvs; vvhich naturally and neceſſarily follovv ſolid Bodies, or the Maſſes of ſolid Bodies aggroupp'd vvhen the Light ſtrikes upon them. And the Artificial conſiſts in the Bodies of Colours, vvhich the Painter gives to certain things, ſuch as pleaſes him; and compoſes them in ſuch a manner, that they do no injury to the objects vvhich are near them. A Drapery, for example, vvhich is made yellovv or red on ſome certain place, in another place may be brovvn, and vvill be more ſuitable to it, to produce the effect requir'd."

Verb
  1. 1
    To lay (someone, or part of their body) down to rest. also, archaic, figuratively, transitive

    "The Sea-god Glaucus […] Repoſd his head vpon my faintfull knée: […]"

  2. 2
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; To place (confidence, faith, or trust) in someone or something. transitive

    "Now woorthy Tamburlaine, haue I repoſ'd, / In thy approoued Fortunes all my hope, / VVhat thinkſt thou man, ſhal come of our attempts?"

  3. 3
    To pose (oneself or someone, or something) again. reflexive, transitive
  4. 4
    put or confide something in a person or thing wordnet
  5. 5
    To rest (oneself), especially by going to sleep. archaic, reflexive, transitive

    "Now may I repoſe me; Cuſtance is mine owne."

Show 27 more definitions
  1. 6
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; Followed by in: to entrust (duty, power, etc.) in someone; to confide. transitive

    "His greatest defect was the facility with which he reposed the cares of state on favorites, not always the most deserving."

  2. 7
    to put something (e.g. trust) in something wordnet
  3. 8
    Followed by from or (obsolete) of: to cause (oneself) to take a rest from some activity; also, to allow (oneself) to recover from some activity. archaic, reflexive, transitive

    "[A]lthough they ſeme as holidaymenne, to repoſe theymſelfes from all corporall buſineſſe: yet they dooe more good then the others, becauſe they doe the thyng moſt chiefly requiſite to be doen."

  4. 9
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; To place (something), especially for safekeeping or storage; to deposit, to keep safe, to store. archaic, transitive

    "When Christ affirmeth, that "where a mans treasure is, there is his heart:" by treasure, he meaneth not the possession of riches simply, but hee meaneth that, wherein a man reposeth his chiefe treasure and felicitie to consist. […] He that reposeth his felicitie in building, giueth ouer his cogitations vnto that."

  5. 10
    put in a horizontal position wordnet
  6. 11
    To give (someone) rest; to refresh (someone) by giving rest. also, figuratively, obsolete, transitive

    "[H]ave ye chos'n this place / After the toyl of Battel to repoſe / Your wearied vertue, for the eaſe you find / To ſlumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n?"

  7. 12
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; To regard (something) as being embodied in another thing; to ascribe, to attribute. obsolete, transitive

    "[…] Paule ſayth that the widowes which hauing ben ones receiued into the Publike miniſterie did marrye, denyed their firſt fayth. But I doe not denie to them, that the widowes, whiche bounde themſelues and their ſeruices to the Chirch, did therewithall take vpon them the bonde of cõtinuall vnmaried life: not becauſe they repoſed any religion therin as it afterward began to be vſed: but becauſe they could not beare that office but beeing at their own libertie and looſe from yoke of mariage."

  8. 13
    lean in a comfortable resting position wordnet
  9. 14
    To cause (oneself) to have faith in or rely on someone or something. obsolete, reflexive, transitive

    "That he conſents, if VVarvvicke yeeld conſent, / For on thy fortune I repoſe my ſelfe."

  10. 15
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; To establish or institute (something); to found. obsolete, rare, transitive

    "A long buylt citty there ſtood, Carthago ſo named, / From the mouth of Tybris, from land eke of Italie ſeauer'd, / Poſſeſt wyth Tyrians, in ſtrength and riches abounding, / There Iuno the princes her empyre wholye repoſed, […]"

  11. 16
    lie when dead wordnet
  12. 17
    To give (someone) accommodation for the night. obsolete, rare, transitive
  13. 18
    Senses relating to placing or positioning.; To throw (something); to cast. obsolete, rare, transitive

    "[T]hee ſouthwynd merciles eager / Three gallant veſſels on rocks gnawne craggye repoſed."

  14. 19
    be inherent or innate in wordnet
  15. 20
    To lean or recline, sit down, or lie down to rest; to rest. also, figuratively, intransitive

    "Though then, the Lords deep VViſedome, to this day, / VVork in the VVorlds vncertain-certain Svvay: / Yet muſt vve credit that his hand compos'd / All in ſix Dayes, and that He then Repos'd; / By his example, giving vs beheſt, / On the Seaventh Day for evermore to Reſt."

  16. 21
    Senses relating to returning.; To put (a body part) back in its usual location; to reposition. transitive
  17. 22
    To lean or recline, sit down, or lie down to rest; to rest.; To die, to rest in peace. also, figuratively, intransitive

    "Simon reposed in the year 1287."

  18. 23
    Senses relating to returning.; To forcefully restrain (something); to repress, to suppress. obsolete, transitive

    "[A] multitude of common People gather'd together in Bands that very Sunday-morning, all armed vvith a full and furious purpoſe to repoſe the Inſolence and Pride of the Nobility, vvho had reduced the common people to ſuch a paſs that they could hardly live by them."

  19. 24
    Followed by on or upon: of a thing: to lie or be physically positioned on something, especially horizontally; to rest on or be supported by something. intransitive

    "a trap reposing on sand"

  20. 25
    Senses relating to returning.; To return (something) to a particular place; to put back, to replace. obsolete, transitive
  21. 26
    Followed by on or upon: of light, a look, etc.: to fall or rest (and often remain for a while) on something; to alight, to dwell. intransitive

    "[T]he grate did then unclose, / And on that reverend form the moonlight did repose."

  22. 27
    Senses relating to returning.; To restore (someone) to a position or rank formerly held; to reinstate. Scotland, obsolete, rare, transitive
  23. 28
    Followed by on or upon: to be based on; to depend or rely on. intransitive

    "The ſoul repoſing on aſſur'd relief, / Feels herſelf happy amidſt all her grief, / Forgets her labour as ſhe toils along, / VVeeps tears of joy, and burſts into a ſong."

  24. 29
    Of a thing: to be in the management or power of a person or an organization. intransitive
  25. 30
    To cease activity to rest or recover; also, to have a period free from activity or disturbance. also, archaic, figuratively, intransitive

    "From the Leila and Majnun of Nizami. […] Thou wert agitated like the sand of the desert; but now thou reposest as the water of the lake."

  26. 31
    To have faith in; to confide, to trust. intransitive, obsolete

    "I do deſire thy vvorthy company, / Vpon vvhoſe faith and honor, I repoſe."

  27. 32
    To lie still and unmoving. intransitive, literary, obsolete, poetic

    "[T]he Pebles, Pyritæ, Amber, or other like Nodules, vvhich happened to be repoſed in thoſe Cliffs, amongſt the Earth ſo beaten dovvn, being hard, and not ſo diſſoluble, and likevviſe more bulky and ponderous, are left behind upon the Shores, being impeded, and ſecured, by that their bulk and vveight, from being born along vvith the Terreſtrial Matter into the Sea."

Synonyms

All synonyms
quietrestabideabide inabnegationabstinence

Example

"His brief repose was interrupted by her arrival."

Common questions

What does "repose" mean?

Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep.

What is a synonym for "repose"?

Common synonyms include: quiet, rest, abide, abide in, abnegation, abstinence.

How do you use "repose" in a sentence?

His brief repose was interrupted by her arrival.

How do you pronounce "repose"?

Pronounced /ɹɪˈpəʊz/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

The verb is derived from Middle English reposen (“to rest”), from Anglo-Norman reposer, reposir, and Middle French reposer, from Old French reposer, repauser (“to become calm; to be peaceful; to rest; to be immobile; to lie or be placed; to cease, stop; to neglect”) (modern French reposer), from Latin repausāre, the present active infinitive of repausō (“(Late Latin) to be at rest; to lie down, rest; to sleep; to calm, pacify; (Latin) to halt temporarily, pause”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + pausō (“to cease, halt; to pause”) (from pausa (“a halt, stop; a pause; an end”), from Ancient Greek παῦσῐς (paûsĭs, “ceasing, stopping”), from παύω (paúō, “to cease; to make to cease, stop; to bring to an end; to hinder”) (further etymology uncertain; possibly from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, little; smallness”)) + -σῐς (-sĭs, suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, process, or result)). The noun is derived from Late Middle English repose, from Anglo-Norman repous, repos, and Middle French repos, repose, from Old French repos (“calm; rest; period or state of sleep; state of immobility; state of inaction”) (modern French repos), from reposer, repauser (verb) (see above). Noun etymology 1 sense 12.3 (“technique of including in a painting an area or areas which are dark, indistinct, or soft in tone”) is borrowed from French repos. Cognates Catalan reposar (verb), repòs (noun) Italian riposare (verb), riposo (noun) Old Occitan repausar, repauzar (verb), repaus (noun) Portuguese repousar (verb), repouso (noun) Spanish reposar (verb), reposo (noun)

Etymology 2

From Middle English reposen (“to put (something) back, replace”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + posen (“to place (something)”), modelled after Latin repōnō (“to put back; to restore; to store”). Posen is derived from Old French poser (“to place, put”) (modern French poser), from Vulgar Latin pausāre, from Latin pausāre, the present active infinitive of pausō (see further at etymology 1), influenced by pōnere, the present active infinitive of pōnō (“to lay, place, put”).

Etymology 3

From re- + pose.

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