Rest vs. Wrest: What's the Difference?
The words rest and wrest are two English terms often confused due to their similar spelling and pronunciation. Rest refers to ceasing work or movement in order to relax, recover, or regain strength. Wrest, on the other hand, indicates the act of forcibly pulling something from a person's grasp or to take something with effort or violence.
How do you use the word rest in a sentence?
Use the word rest when referring to a period of relaxation or inactivity, both physically and mentally. It's commonly associated with sleep or a break from activities. It can be used in various contexts including daily life, work, and health.
Examples of rest in a sentence
- After the marathon, all she wanted was to rest her tired legs.
- I'll finish the report after I take a short rest.
- The doctor advised him to get plenty of rest to recover from his illness.
How do you use the word wrest in a sentence?
The word wrest is utilized to describe the action of taking something away by force or with considerable effort. Often used in metaphorical contexts, it emphasizes the difficulty in obtaining or achieving something.
Examples of wrest in a sentence
- She managed to wrest control of the company from her competitors.
- The officer had to wrest the weapon from the suspect's hands.
- With hard work, he was able to wrest a victory from a seemingly impossible situation.
Rest and wrest definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Rest definition:
Rest is defined as a state of being in which activity or motion is ceased, allowing for relaxation, rejuvenation, and the recovery of strength; a pause or break in work or other engagement.
Rest parts of speech:
Rest pronunciation:
Rest is pronounced as /rɛst/.
Wrest definition:
Wrest means to forcibly pull from a grasp or to obtain something with effort that is not readily given; often implying a struggle or contest.
Wrest parts of speech:
Wrest pronunciation:
Wrest is pronounced as /rɛst/, which is phonetically identical to rest.
Rest is defined as a state of being in which activity or motion is ceased, allowing for relaxation, rejuvenation, and the recovery of strength; a pause or break in work or other engagement.
Rest parts of speech:
- As a noun: We took a brief rest under the shade of the tree.
- As a verb: She likes to rest her eyes after hours of reading.
Rest pronunciation:
Rest is pronounced as /rɛst/.
Wrest definition:
Wrest means to forcibly pull from a grasp or to obtain something with effort that is not readily given; often implying a struggle or contest.
Wrest parts of speech:
- As a verb: The police officer was able to wrest the knife away.
- As a verb (figurative use): He wrested the truth from the tight-lipped witness.
Wrest pronunciation:
Wrest is pronounced as /rɛst/, which is phonetically identical to rest.
Rest vs. Wrest in a nutshell
While rest and wrest may sound similar, their meanings are vastly different. Rest signifies a pause or period of relaxation, essential for recovery and rejuvenation, and can function both as a verb and a noun. Wrest, used exclusively as a verb, involves force and effort to take something from another's control or to overcome a difficulty. Recognizing the context in which these words are used is key to understanding their distinct applications in the English language.
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