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
Benefits of Separate Sleep Spaces Experiencing restless sleep—or worse, not getting enough sleep—because one partner snores or has different sleep patterns can result in chronic sleep loss for the other partner and relationship tension for both.
—
Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
Thousands of touchpoints across the surface are there to hug and contour your sleeping self, and the topper’s thick straps are ones that won’t pop off your mattress after a particularly restless night.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
The beat never stops in Søimer Guttormsen’s restless film, even when the party does.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Prolific and intellectually restless, Greenberg was in many ways the loquacious American version of the late Tom Stoppard, and in turn a significant influence on such Chicago writers as Tracy Letts.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
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Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
Thousands of touchpoints across the surface are there to hug and contour your sleeping self, and the topper’s thick straps are ones that won’t pop off your mattress after a particularly restless night.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
The beat never stops in Søimer Guttormsen’s restless film, even when the party does.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Prolific and intellectually restless, Greenberg was in many ways the loquacious American version of the late Tom Stoppard, and in turn a significant influence on such Chicago writers as Tracy Letts.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 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 11 Feb. 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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