restless
gb/ɹˈɛstləs/ us/ɹˈɛstləs/
B1
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
unable to relax or keep still
Not able to sit or be quiet because you feel worried, bored, or excited.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels restless
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'restless' with 'tired'. 'Restless' means unable to stay still, not lacking energy.
Synonyms
fidgety (Suggests small nervous movements due to restlessness.)
|
agitated (Implies restlessness with visible emotional disturbance.)
Antonyms
calm (Describes a state free from agitation or restlessness.)
|
relaxed (Implies comfort and lack of tension or restlessness.)
Collocations
feel restless
|become restless
|restless energy
|restless night
|restless crowd
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt restless after sitting in the meeting for three hours.
- The children grew restless during the long bus ride.
- I get restless if I stay indoors all day.
- He was too restless to focus on his book.
- A restless crowd waited for the concert to start.
Learner examples
- I feel restless when I have nothing to do.
- The baby is restless tonight.
- He is restless because he is worried.
- She gets restless when she waits too long.
adjective
B2
property
2
having little rest or peace
Full of activity or movement and without much quiet or rest.
Usage pattern:
a restless [period/time/night]
Synonyms
unquiet (Formal term meaning not peaceful or calm.)
|
turbulent (Suggests strong disturbance and lack of calm.)
Antonyms
peaceful (Describes a state free from disturbance or activity.)
|
tranquil (Implies calmness and stillness.)
Collocations
restless night
|restless sleep
|restless days
|restless sea
Themes
daily life
|time
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a restless night with loud storms outside.
- She had a restless week full of travel and meetings.
- The restless sea made it hard for the boats to dock.
- His mind was restless with too many thoughts.
- They spent a restless summer moving from city to city.
Learner examples
- I had a restless night because of the noise.
- The baby had a restless sleep.
- It was a restless day at work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
restless
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛstləs/
US/ɹˈɛstləs/
Syllables & stress
rest - less (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rest)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: restless
Word family
Expressions
restless leg syndrome
1/ɹˈɛstləs lˈɛɡ sˈɪndɹˌoʊm/
fixed phrase
medical condition causing leg movement urge
A health problem that makes you feel like you must move your legs, usually at night.
Examples
- She was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome and started treatment.
- Restless leg syndrome kept him awake most nights.
restless spirit
1/ɹˈɛstləs spˈɪɹɪt/
fixed phrase
literary
person who cannot settle down
Someone who always wants change and cannot stay in one place for a long time.
Examples
- He was a restless spirit, always moving from job to job.
- Her friends called her a restless spirit because she loved to travel constantly.