noun

repose

rih-POHZ

noun

A state of rest or calm, especially after activity, or a period of sleep.

"After the long hike, they welcomed an evening of repose by the fire."

"The garden was designed as a place of quiet repose."

verb

To rest, relax, or lie down peacefully.

"She reposed on the sofa with a book after dinner."

To place trust, confidence, or faith in someone or something.

"The team reposed great confidence in their new captain."

How to Use Repose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA state of calm rest, or the act of resting or trusting.

When to use it

A fairly formal or literary word — everyday speech usually just says "rest" or "relax."

Common pairings

in repose repose confidence in a state of repose

Word Forms

reposed past tense, reposed past tense, reposed past tense, repose plural, reposed plural, reposes plural, repose plural, reposed plural, reposes singular, repose singular, reposed singular, reposest singular, reposedst singular, reposeth singular, reposes singular, repose singular, reposest singular, reposed singular, reposedst singular, reposeth singular, reposes singular

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After the long hike, they welcomed an evening of _____ by the fire.

Etymology

From Old French reposer, "to rest" or "to be still," ultimately from Latin repausare — re- plus pausare ("to pause"), the ancestor of "pause" itself.

Rhymes for repose

rose nose lose dose pose Jose hose Bose close moose whose goose

See all rhymes for repose →