n. 1
The state of being peacefully inactive or relaxed, or being free from disturbances or worries; calmness, ease, peace, quietness.
n. 2
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.
v. 1
Senses relating to placing or positioning. To regard (something) as being embodied in another thing; to ascribe, to attribute.
v. 2
To lean or recline, sit down, or lie down to rest; to rest.

Related words

Word family: reposeful
Phrases: statute of repose

Forms

Plural: reposes → peaces, tranquilities, serenities, calmnesses…
Past participle: reposed
e.g. reposed → reclined, couched, recumbed, imputed…

Choose the right word

Repose, Sleep, Rest or Slumber?

Repose is a laying down, primarily of the body, and figuratively a similar freedom from toil or strain of mind. Sleep is the perfection of repose, the most complete rest; slumber is a light and ordinarily pleasant form of sleep.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

peace A rifle shot broke the peace of the early morning.
serenity You reflect the serenity of the sea in your eyes.
tranquility The city was restored to tranquility after a week.
calmness Calmness attracts life; agitation pushes it away.
sleep Your lack of sleep will catch up with you someday.
relaxation I experience relaxation when surrounded by nature.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
repose		steady
peace		steady
serenity		rising
tranquility		rising
calmness		rising
sleep		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: lie¹, lay¹
4 letters: stay¹, rest¹, calm¹, ease¹
5 letters: peace¹, sleep¹, quiet², couch¹, lodge¹, abide²
6 letters: attach², reside², impute², recumb
7 letters: resting², slumber², respite², recline², quietus
8 letters: serenity⁴, calmness², quietude, quietism, ataraxis
9 letters: composure³, stillness², quietness³, placidity
10 letters: relaxation⁴, inactivity⁵, equanimity⁵, quiescence, recumbency
11 letters: tranquility⁴, restfulness, reclination
12 letters: tranquillity⁴, peacefulness³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (quiet² = 2 syllables).