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
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
Better to wait the performance out, to hope the protesters would get restless and give up.
—
Clare Sestanovich, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
Life was full and busy, but beneath the surface, Nancy was restless.
—Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Early news reports of a deadly Chris-Craft accident kept them anxious and restless all night.
—Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
Softening those characters for present-day sensibilities banishes what little edge there was and leaves everything feeling over-bright in a restless and relentless production.
—David Benedict, Variety, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
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show current usage.
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Clare Sestanovich, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
Life was full and busy, but beneath the surface, Nancy was restless.
—Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Early news reports of a deadly Chris-Craft accident kept them anxious and restless all night.
—Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
Softening those characters for present-day sensibilities banishes what little edge there was and leaves everything feeling over-bright in a restless and relentless production.
—David Benedict, Variety, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
Cite this Entry
“Restless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restless. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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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