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
While some dog owners struggle with restless nights due to snoring or space-hogging canines, others, like the creator of this video, find joy and comfort in the company.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
While at the first school my penchant for being boisterous and chatty was seen as charming, the girls at school two just viewed me as a restless chatterbox.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
After several nights of restless sleep, the man’s patience finally ran out.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
When a restless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation and the multimillion-dollar heist gets closer, the line between the hunter and the hunted blur, forcing all three of them to confront their actions.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restless
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Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
While at the first school my penchant for being boisterous and chatty was seen as charming, the girls at school two just viewed me as a restless chatterbox.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
After several nights of restless sleep, the man’s patience finally ran out.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
When a restless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation and the multimillion-dollar heist gets closer, the line between the hunter and the hunted blur, forcing all three of them to confront their actions.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 23 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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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