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
also
: changeful, discontented
was becoming restless and unhappy with his job
The audience was restless.
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
Local legends speak of restless spirits, mysterious voices, and supernatural activity, although many claims are impossible to verify.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
From Prince Harry and Princess Diana’s matching moments in the late ’80s to Prince Louis’s famously restless balcony appearances, each ceremony has delivered its share of lighthearted highlights.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Dog Day Afternoon is a definitive '70s film, with its gritty, unpolished vision of a restless New York and a dark sense of humor in its portrayal of a heist gone horribly wrong.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
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Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
From Prince Harry and Princess Diana’s matching moments in the late ’80s to Prince Louis’s famously restless balcony appearances, each ceremony has delivered its share of lighthearted highlights.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Dog Day Afternoon is a definitive '70s film, with its gritty, unpolished vision of a restless New York and a dark sense of humor in its portrayal of a heist gone horribly wrong.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restless. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
restless
adjective
rest·less
ˈrest-ləs 
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
1
: deprived of rest or sleep
the patient was restless from pain
2
: providing no rest
a restless night
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