¹wrest

verb \ˈrest\

: to pull (something) away from someone by using violent twisting movements

: to take (something) from someone with much effort

Full Definition of WREST

transitive verb

: to pull, force, or move by violent wringing or twisting movements

: to gain with difficulty by or as if by force, violence, or determined labor

See wrest defined for English-language learners

See wrest defined for kids

Origin of WREST

Middle English wrasten, wresten, from Old English wrǣstan; akin to Old Norse reista to bend and probably to Old English wrigian to turn — more at wry

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WREST

Synonyms: corkscrew, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, extract, wring, yank

Rhymes with WREST

best, breast, Brest, chest, crest, gest, geste, guest, hest, jessed, jest, lest, nest, pest, quest, rest, test, tressed, vest, west, zest

²wrest

noun

Definition of WREST

: the action of wresting : wrench

archaic : a key or wrench used for turning pins in a stringed instrument (as a piano)

First Known Use of WREST

14th century

WREST Defined for Kids

wrest

verb \ˈrest\

wrest·edwrest·ing

Definition of WREST for Kids

: to pull away by twisting or wringing <I had to wrest my shoe from the dog's mouth.>

: to obtain only by great and steady effort <“For this is the day we are to conquer His Majesty the Scarecrow, and wrest from him the throne.” — L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz>