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
The Nigerian city of more than 20 million people is renowned for its hustle and bustle, its restless energy and commercial drive — a place where honks from signature yellow passenger buses fill the air.
—
ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
Gainsbourg plays Charlotte’s protective sister, while Hellmann stars as a restless artist caught between love and loyalty and McAlpine plays a young aspiring dancer.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Juliette Binoche has spent four decades embodying the restless intelligence of French and European cinema, moving effortlessly between auteurs and emotional registers.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
But a restless Jackie (Naomi Watts) only wants to recover at home.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restless
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ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
Gainsbourg plays Charlotte’s protective sister, while Hellmann stars as a restless artist caught between love and loyalty and McAlpine plays a young aspiring dancer.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Juliette Binoche has spent four decades embodying the restless intelligence of French and European cinema, moving effortlessly between auteurs and emotional registers.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
But a restless Jackie (Naomi Watts) only wants to recover at home.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 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 16 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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