restless

adjective

rest·​less ˈrest-ləs 

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

Synonyms of restless

• uneasy
• troubled
• unsettled
• anxious
• restive

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

The boundless optimism, reckless honesty, and restless wanderlust of Mutable Fire for the next four weeks. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Nov. 2025

Altogether, that makes for a lot of restless spirits. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Night came and the fox fell in and out of restless sleep. —Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025

His passing closes a chapter for fans and fellow artists who saw him as a crucial bridge between genre icons and new voices, embodying the restless spirit of the American troubadour. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing restless

• restless legs syndrome

Kids 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