restless

adjective

rest·​less ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio)
1
: lacking or denying rest : uneasy
a restless night
2
: continuously moving : unquiet
the restless sea
3
: characterized by or manifesting unrest especially of mind
restless pacing
restlessly adverb
restlessness noun

Examples of restless in a Sentence

restless children who can't sit still The audience was becoming restless. He started to feel restless and discontent in his job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But not on this recent Wednesday — because the herd is restless. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025 After a restless night while a thunderstorm raged outside, Tess and Anna wake up not as themselves, but as two 14-year-old girls, Harper and Lily. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025 From the dreamy haze of Siamese Dream to the sprawling ambition of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness—a No. 1 Billboard 200 smash—his work plays like a fever-dream diary, each album a restless search for meaning in a world that refuses to stay still. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025 Nevertheless, your restless energy might take you in an unexpected direction. Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for restless

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of restless was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restless. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

restless

adjective
rest·​less ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio)
1
: being without rest : giving no rest
a restless night
2
: always moving
the restless sea
3
: showing one to be uneasy
restless pacing back and forth
restlessly adverb
restlessness noun

Medical Definition

restless

adjective
rest·​less ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio)
1
: deprived of rest or sleep
the patient was restless from pain
2
: providing no rest
a restless night

More from Merriam-Webster on restless

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