Repose — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ri-ˈpōz/ re·pose

Meaning & Definition of Repose

Repose (noun)

  1. a state of resting after exertion or strain; especially, rest in sleep
  2. eternal or heavenly rest
  3. a place of rest

Repose (verb)

  1. to lay at rest
  2. to lie at rest
  3. to lie dead
  4. to place (confidence, trust, etc.) in someone or something
  5. to place for control, management, or use
  6. to put away or set down, deposit

Repose (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself

    "typically the wealthy socialite spends most of the morning in repose, is served lunch, and then embarks on an exhaustive afternoon of shopping"

    similar: bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, rest, resting, shut-eye, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, z's
    related: catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, wink, oversleeping, dreaming, rapid eye movement
    opposite: consciousness, wake, wakefulness
    near: insomnia, sleeplessness

  2. a state of freedom from storm or disturbance

    "enjoyed the repose of a serene summer evening"

    similar: calm, calmness, hush, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietness, quietude, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquility
    related: lull, pause, respite, silence, mildness, soothingness, comity, concord, harmony, casualness, easygoingness, informality, laid-backness, relaxedness
    opposite: bustle, commotion, hubbub, hurly-burly, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil, unquietness, unrest, uproar
    near: clamor, din, noise, racket

  3. freedom from activity or labor

    "the doctor ordered a period of repose for the patient recovering from pneumonia"

    similar: decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, rest
    related: catnapping, dozing, lazing, napping, resting, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, quiet, silence, stillness, calm, peace, peacefulness, placidity, respite, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, dolce far niente, idleness
    opposite: exertion, labor, toil, work
    near: pressure, strain, stress, tenseness, tension

  4. evenness of emotions or temper

    "her repose in the face of the screaming demonstrators was impressive"

    similar: aplomb, calmness, collectedness, composedness, composure, cool, coolness, countenance, equanimity, equilibrium, imperturbability, placidity, sangfroid, self-composedness, self-possession, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness
    related: assurance, confidence, poise, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-trust, easygoingness, laid-backness, apathy, detachment, impassivity, indifference, insensibility, numbness, phlegm, unconcern
    opposite: agitation, discomposure, perturbation
    near: alarm, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, solicitude, uneasiness, worry, excitability, excitableness, nervousness, disturbance

Repose (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to remain out of sight

    "a little-explored region beneath which vast mineral reserves are said to repose"

    similar: hide, hole up, lie, lurk, skulk, lie low, sit tight
    related: slink, sneak, avoid, elude, evade
    opposite: appear
    near: come out, materialize, show up, turn up

  2. to refrain from labor or exertion

    "reposed in the Caribbean sun, enjoying her break from the world of work"

    similar: bask, kick back, loll, lounge, relax, rest
    related: bum, goldbrick, hang, hang about (British), hang around, idle, loaf, slack (off), veg out
    near: drudge, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work, exercise, work out

  3. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "the Constitution reposes the power to declare war to Congress, and to that body alone"

    similar: commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Repose

The most common words with a similar meaning to Repose:

bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, rest, resting, shut-eye, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, z's, calm, calmness, hush, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietness, quietude, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquility, decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, aplomb, collectedness, composedness, composure, cool, coolness, countenance, equanimity, equilibrium

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Repose

Words with the opposite meaning of Repose:

consciousness, wake, wakefulness, bustle, commotion, hubbub, hurly-burly, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil, unquietness, unrest, uproar, exertion, labor, toil, work, agitation, discomposure, perturbation, appear, hold, keep, retain

Related Words for Repose

catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, wink, oversleeping, dreaming, rapid eye movement, lull, pause, respite, silence, mildness, soothingness, comity, concord, harmony, casualness, easygoingness, informality, laid-backness, relaxedness, lazing, dolce far niente, idleness, assurance, confidence

Near Antonyms of Repose

insomnia, sleeplessness, clamor, din, noise, racket, pressure, strain, stress, tenseness, tension, alarm, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, solicitude, uneasiness, worry, excitability, excitableness, nervousness, disturbance, come out, materialize, show up, turn up

Word Forms of Repose

Inflections: reposed, reposing

Origin & Etymology of Repose

Middle English, from Anglo-French reposer, from Late Latin repausare, from Latin re- + Late Latin pausare to stop, from Latin pausa pause

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Repose

altar of repose, in repose

Frequently Asked Questions about Repose

What does "Repose" mean?

"Repose" means a state of resting after exertion or strain; especially, rest in sleep. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a state of resting after exertion or strain; especially, rest in sleep. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Repose"?

Other words for "Repose" include bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, rest, resting, shut-eye and sleep. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Repose" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Repose"?

There are 161 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Repose". Common alternatives include bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, rest, resting, shut-eye, sleep, slumber and slumbering.

What is the opposite of "Repose"?

Antonyms of "Repose" include consciousness, wake, wakefulness, bustle, commotion, hubbub, hurly-burly and pandemonium. Near antonyms include insomnia, sleeplessness, clamor and din.

How do you use "Repose" in a sentence?

Examples of "Repose" in a sentence: "typically the wealthy socialite spends most of the morning in repose, is served lunch, and then embarks on an exhaustive afternoon of shopping"; "enjoyed the repose of a serene summer evening"; "the doctor ordered a period of repose for the patient recovering from pneumonia".

Is "Repose" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Repose" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Repose"?

"Repose" is pronounced /ri-ˈpōz/ and divided into syllables as re·pose.

What is the origin of the word "Repose"?

"Repose" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French reposer, from Late Latin repausare, from Latin re- + Late Latin pausare to stop, from Latin pausa pause. First known use: 15th century.