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
Conversations stalled after 30 seconds, and the energy in the place was restless, performative, and slightly desperate.
—
Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
In the spring of 1993, a group of restless Cartoon Network employees, led by VP of programming and TBS lifer Mike Lazzo, wanted to inject original programming targeted for adults into a rote repertory schedule of Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
In Proof, Catherine (Edebiri), the brilliant but restless daughter of renowned mathematics professor Robert (Cheadle), is thrust into turmoil when a notebook containing a revelatory proof is discovered after his death.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Lifting the Carabao Cup last March closed off a great obsession, but the theory that a first domestic trophy for 70 years might soothe a famously restless club remains precisely that.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
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.
Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026
In the spring of 1993, a group of restless Cartoon Network employees, led by VP of programming and TBS lifer Mike Lazzo, wanted to inject original programming targeted for adults into a rote repertory schedule of Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
In Proof, Catherine (Edebiri), the brilliant but restless daughter of renowned mathematics professor Robert (Cheadle), is thrust into turmoil when a notebook containing a revelatory proof is discovered after his death.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Lifting the Carabao Cup last March closed off a great obsession, but the theory that a first domestic trophy for 70 years might soothe a famously restless club remains precisely that.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 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 26 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
