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restless

adjective
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rest·​less | \ ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio) \

Definition of restless

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
Other Words from restless Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about restless

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Other Words from restless

restlessly adverb
restlessness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for restless

Synonyms

Antonyms

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web The top concern for Masud is that Houstonians are feeling restless and want to connect with their families. — Alison Medley, Houston Chronicle, "Houston ICU doc sounds COVID-19 warning for Labor Day weekend," 4 Sep. 2020 Cindi, a restless and adventurous teen, never wanted to hang out with the missionary kids. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Weaving presents from the past: Textiles from a long-ago trip to Cameroon find unexpected use in pandemic," 30 Aug. 2020 But restless minds have found innovative ways to get back to work. — Neal Justin, Star Tribune, "TV shows and stars are learning to adapt in an awkward pandemic age," 28 Aug. 2020 Bring back the reed and the reef, set the ice sheet back on its frozen plinth, tuck the restless watercourse into its bed, sit the glacier down on its highland throne, put the snow cap back on the mountain peak. — Simon Armitage, Scientific American, "Poem: Bring Back the Leaf," 18 Aug. 2020 Back in mid-March, when the severity of the coronavirus pandemic was dawning on people around the world, Mei Xiang became restless. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Giant Panda Mama Welcomes Baby Cub at National Zoo Friday Evening," 21 Aug. 2020 Australia’s biggest bats—known as flying foxes—are among the world’s most restless nomads, according to a new study. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Australia’s biggest bats fly thousands of kilometers a year—farther than wildebeest and caribou," 20 Aug. 2020 An individual animal, or plant, embodies and maintains the restless metabolism that made it. — The Economist, "The viral universe Viruses have big impacts on ecology and evolution as well as human health," 20 Aug. 2020 Curreri, something of a restless artist, also drew and painted from an early age. — Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, "“I miss my body when it was ferocious” The Transfiguration of Paul Curreri," 10 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'restless.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of restless

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

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Time Traveler for restless

Time Traveler

The first known use of restless was before the 12th century

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Last Updated

9 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restless. Accessed 18 Sep. 2020.

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More Definitions for restless

restless

adjective
How to pronounce restless (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of restless

: feeling nervous or bored and tending to move around a lot : not relaxed or calm
: unhappy about a situation and wanting change
: having little or no rest or sleep

See the full definition for restless in the English Language Learners Dictionary

restless

adjective
rest·​less | \ ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio) \

Kids Definition of restless

1 : not relaxed or calm The waiting audience became restless.
2 : having or giving no rest But it was a restless sleep in which he tossed and moaned continually.— Robert C. O'Brien, Rats of NIMH

Other Words from restless

restlessly adverb
restlessness noun

restless

adjective
rest·​less | \ ˈrest-ləs How to pronounce restless (audio) \

Medical Definition of restless

1 : deprived of rest or sleep the patient was restless from pain
2 : providing no rest a restless night

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More from Merriam-Webster on restless

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for restless

Nglish: Translation of restless for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of restless for Arabic Speakers

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