restless

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Unable to stay still or relax, usually because you are bored, worried or full of energy.

   Grammar: Can come before a noun (a restless child) or after be or feel (she felt restless).

   Patterns

   • feel restless
   • grow restless
   • restless with something

   The audience grew restless as the speech dragged on.

   He felt restless after a week of sitting at home.

   The puppy was restless and kept pacing around the room.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Marked by little or no proper sleep or quiet because of worry or discomfort.

   Grammar: Often used with night, sleep or hours.

   Patterns

   • a restless night
   • restless sleep

   After a restless night, she skipped breakfast.

   The baby had a restless sleep because of the heat.

   He spent restless hours waiting for the call.

3. 3adjectivecomparableliterary

   Always wanting change, adventure or something new, never content to stay in one place or job.

   Grammar: Describes a lasting trait of someone's character: a restless spirit.

   Patterns

   • a restless spirit
   • restless for something

   As a restless young man, he moved from city to city.

   Her restless curiosity kept her studying new subjects.

Word forms

Common combinations

a restless night

We had a restless night because of the storm.

grow restless

The crowd grew restless in the heat.

feel restless

I always feel restless on long train rides.

a restless spirit

Her father was a restless spirit who never stayed anywhere long.

restless energy

The kids had too much restless energy to sit still.

restless legs

Restless legs kept him awake.

Synonyms and how they differ

fidgety

Fidgety describes small nervous movements, while restless covers the wider feeling of being unable to settle.

agitated

Agitated is stronger and implies worry or upset, not just an inability to relax.

uneasy

Uneasy emphasizes a sense of worry, whereas restless emphasizes the need to move or change.

edgy

Edgy is informal and suggests being nervous or irritable, more than simply unable to settle.

Opposites

Word family

rest noun

a period of calm or sleep

restlessly adverb

in a way that shows an inability to stay still

restlessness noun

the state of being unable to stay calm or still

restful adjective

giving a feeling of peace and relaxation

Commonly confused: restless or reckless?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “restless”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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