repose

¹ American  

[ri-pohz] / rɪˈpoʊz /

noun

1. the state of resting or being at rest; sleep.

2. peace; tranquility; calm.

   rare moments of utter repose.

3. dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.

4. absence of movement, animation, etc..

   When in repose, her face recalls the Mona Lisa.

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verb (used without object)

reposed, reposing

1. to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.

2. to lie dead.

   His body will repose in the chapel for two days.

3. to be peacefully calm and quiet.

   The sea reposed under the tropical sun.

4. to lie or rest on something.

5. Archaic. to depend or rely on a person or thing.

verb (used with object)

reposed, reposing

1. to lay at rest; rest; refresh by rest (often used reflexively).

repose ² American  

[ri-pohz] / rɪˈpoʊz /

verb (used with object)

reposed, reposing

1. to put (confidence, trust, etc.) in a person or thing.

2. to put under the authority or at the disposal of a person.

3. Archaic. to deposit.

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repose ¹ British  

/ rɪˈpəʊz /

noun

1. a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity

2. dignified calmness of manner; composure

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verb

1. to place (oneself or one's body) in a state of quiet relaxation; lie or lay down at rest

2. (intr) to lie when dead, as in the grave

3. formal (intr; foll by on, in, etc) to take support (from) or be based (on)

   your plan reposes on a fallacy

repose ² British  

/ rɪˈpəʊz /

verb

1. to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing

2. to place or put (an object) somewhere

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Other Word Forms

• reposal noun
• reposedly adverb
• reposedness noun
• reposeful adjective
• reposefully adverb
• reposefulness noun
• reposer noun

Etymology

Origin of repose¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb reposen, from Middle French reposer, Old French, from Late Latin repausāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + Late Latin pausāre “to rest” (derivative of Latin pausa pause )

Origin of repose²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reposen “to replace,” influenced by Latin reposuisse “to have put back,” perfect infinitive of repōnere; see re-, pose ¹

Explanation

Repose is a formal or literary term used to mean the act of resting, or the state of being at rest. Repose is also a state of mind: freedom from worry. As a verb, repose means to rest or relax, or to rest on something for support: "There she was, reposing on the front porch." The verb is from Middle English, from Old French reposer, from Late Latin repausāre, "to cause to rest," from the Latin prefix re-, "again," plus pausāre, "to rest."

Example Sentences

When our granddaughter Raleigh, then 2, met Doc, he was in his bed in the kitchen, one of his five places of repose around our house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

While her maybe-beau stays forced in repose, Iris cycles through all the different types of women she could be.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2025

Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025

Castlecore on Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram produces visions of leisure and comfort, a place for a pseudo-medieval 21st-century lady to repose.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

But Mama told him we wished to mourn privately, that they could go to offer Masses for the repose of Papas soul.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• inactivity
• stillness