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.
That election, which will select members of Iraq's 329-seat parliament, comes amid rising unemployment, which continues to weigh on Iraq's young and restless population. Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025 An impressive four-game winning streak followed a lopsided loss at Wazzu that had some natives not just restless but greasing skids and sharpening pitchforks. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025 The Democrats’ restless post-Biden mood is impacting race after race, and incumbents who’ve been in office since before their challengers were born look unusually vulnerable. David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025 For 16 years, the ghosts of Monument Park have been restless. Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!