restlessness
gb/ɹˈɛstləsnəs/ us/ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
B1
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
inability to relax or be still
The feeling that you cannot relax, sit still, or be calm, often because you are worried, bored, or full of energy.
Usage pattern:
a feeling of restlessness in [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "restlessness" with "rest" and try to say *"I have a restlessness"* like a countable object. "Restlessness" is an uncountable noun and is usually used without an article: "I feel restlessness" or more naturally "I feel a sense of restlessness." They may also use the adjective form incorrectly, saying *"I am restlessness"* instead of "I am restless."
Synonyms
unease (Suggests a mild but persistent lack of comfort or calm, sometimes less physical than restlessness.)
|
agitation (Stronger and often more emotional, implying visible upset or disturbance, not just an inability to relax.)
Antonyms
calmness (Direct opposite; a peaceful state where a person feels relaxed and free from nervous movement or worry.)
|
relaxation (Focuses on the comfortable, loose state of body and mind that restlessness prevents.)
Collocations
nervous restlessness
|inner restlessness
|a feeling of restlessness
|signs of restlessness
|restlessness and anxiety
|restlessness at night
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|health
Examples
- After a few days at home, she felt a growing restlessness and needed to get out of the house.
- His constant leg tapping was a clear sign of restlessness during the long meeting.
- The childs restlessness made it hard for her to sit through the entire movie.
- He walked around the room in restlessness, unable to focus on his book.
- Meditation helped ease the restlessness he usually felt before exams.
Learner examples
- I feel restlessness when I wait for important news.
- The long bus trip gave the children a lot of restlessness.
- Her restlessness keeps her walking around the room.
- Deep breathing can reduce restlessness before a test.
- There was restlessness in my body, so I could not sleep.
Noun
B2
state
2
dissatisfaction creating desire for change
A feeling that things should not stay the same and must change, often making people want action or something new.
Usage pattern:
restlessness among [a group]
Common mistake:
Learners may treat this sense as always personal and emotional, forgetting it is often used about groups or societies: "restlessness among voters," "social restlessness." They may also overuse "unrest" where the situation is not strong or violent enough; "restlessness" can describe a quieter desire for change.
Synonyms
discontent (Emphasizes unhappiness with the way things are, sometimes without the active energy or movement implied by restlessness.)
|
unrest (Commonly used for groups or societies and can suggest protests or conflict, while restlessness can be quieter or more internal.)
Antonyms
contentment (Opposite in that it describes being satisfied with the current situation and not wanting change.)
|
stability (Highlights social or political calm where there is little desire or pressure for change.)
Collocations
political restlessness
|social restlessness
|growing restlessness
|restlessness among voters
|youthful restlessness
|a climate of restlessness
Themes
society
|politics
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There is growing restlessness among young people who feel shut out of the job market.
- The government ignored the signs of restlessness in the rural areas.
- Her constant job changes came from an inner restlessness and a desire for new challenges.
- Political restlessness in the region eventually led to large street protests.
- His early novels are full of youthful restlessness and a search for meaning.
Learner examples
- There was restlessness among the workers before the strike.
- Youthful restlessness pushed him to travel the world.
- The speech did not calm the public restlessness.
- Restlessness in the city grew after the prices went up.
- Her restlessness made her look for a new career.
Noun
technical
C1
state
3
medical symptom of constant movement
In medical language, a problem where a person cannot stay still and keeps moving because of pain or illness.
Usage pattern:
restlessness and [related symptom]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes do not realize that in medical reports "restlessness" is a specific symptom, not just a general feeling. They may also confuse it with "restless legs syndrome," which is a particular condition and not the same as general restlessness.
Synonyms
agitation (In clinical descriptions, often paired with or close in meaning to restlessness, but may also include emotional or verbal disturbance.)
Antonyms
sedation (Medical opposite; a drug-induced state of calm or reduced movement where restlessness is absent.)
Collocations
psychomotor restlessness
|restlessness and agitation
|motor restlessness
|marked restlessness
|nocturnal restlessness
|restlessness in the patient
Themes
medicine
|health
Examples
- The nurse recorded increased restlessness and agitation during the night shift.
- Psychomotor restlessness can be a side effect of this medication.
- The patient's restlessness decreased after the pain relief took effect.
Learner examples
- The doctor saw restlessness in the patient after the operation.
- Restlessness at night can be a sign of pain.
- The medicine caused restlessness and fast movement.
- They gave him a drug to reduce his restlessness.
- The report notes restlessness and trouble sleeping.
Grammar
Dictionary form
restlessness
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
US/ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
Syllables & stress
rest - less - ness (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rest)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: restlessness
- Plural: restlessness
Word family
Expressions
a feeling of restlessness
1/ə fˈilɪŋ əv ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
subjective sense of not relaxing
A personal sense that you cannot relax or be calm.
Examples
- After a week at home, she had a feeling of restlessness and wanted to go somewhere new.
- He couldn't shake a feeling of restlessness before the big presentation.
growing restlessness
1/ɡɹˈoʊɪŋ ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
restlessness that is increasing
Restlessness that is slowly becoming stronger or more common.
Examples
- There is growing restlessness among students about the cost of housing.
- The long delay created a growing restlessness in the waiting room.
inner restlessness
1/ˈɪnɚ ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
internal lack of calm or peace
A strong, deep feeling inside that you cannot be calm or at peace.
Examples
- Travel was his way of dealing with his inner restlessness.
- Therapy helped her understand the inner restlessness she had felt for years.
nervous restlessness
1/nˈɚvəs ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
restlessness from nervousness or anxiety
Restlessness that comes from feeling nervous or worried.
Examples
- There was a nervous restlessness in the crowd before the results were announced.
- His constant jokes were a sign of nervous restlessness rather than confidence.
political restlessness
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
social or political desire for change
A situation where many people are unhappy with politics and want change.
Examples
- Political restlessness in the region has worried foreign investors.
- The reforms were a response to years of political restlessness.
youthful restlessness
1/jˈuθfəl ɹˈɛstləsnəs/
fixed phrase
restlessness common in young people
The strong desire of young people to move, explore, and change things.
Examples
- His decision to move abroad came from youthful restlessness rather than a clear plan.
- The novel captures the youthful restlessness of life after graduation.