Looking up...
restless
/ˈrɛst.ləs/
unable to stay still or calm
The children became restless after sitting for hours.
They were too energetic to stay seated quietly.
neutral
Unable to stay still or relax due to anxiety, boredom, or impatience.
She felt restless before her job interview.
Her nervous energy made it hard to sit still.
The restless crowd waited for the concert to begin.
The people were eager and couldn't settle down.
Often describes mental or physical agitation rather than physical movement.
neutral
Never stopping or quiet; constantly active or changing.
The restless sea kept crashing against the shore.
The waves were never calm or still.
He has a restless mind that never stops thinking.
His thoughts are always shifting and active.
Describes environments, situations, or people with unceasing motion or change.
Collocations
restless sleepsleep that is frequently interrupted or disturbedrestless energya feeling of needing to be active or do somethingrestless spirita person who is always seeking new experiences or challenges
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'restless'
While 'restless' can describe physical movement, it often implies mental or emotional unease. Use 'active' or 'energetic' if you mean physical motion without the emotional nuance.
Gold Rule
Context matters
'Restless' usually suggests a negative or uncomfortable state (e.g., anxiety, boredom). It's rarely used for positive excitement (e.g., 'restless with joy' is unusual).
Word Origin
From Old English 'restlēas' (meaning 'without rest'), composed of 'rest' (peace, rest) + '-lēas' (without). First recorded around 1300.
Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe both people and environments. Not typically used for physical exhaustion (e.g., not 'restless from work').
Word Breakdown
rest
peace, quiet, or freedom from activity
root-less
without
suffixEnglish Dictionary