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restlessness
/ˈrɛstləsnəs/
inability to stay still or relaxed
After sitting through the long meeting, she felt a wave of restlessness and needed to take a walk.
Her discomfort from sitting too long made her feel restless and eager to move.
neutral
the state of being unable to remain calm, still, or relaxed due to anxiety, boredom, or energy
The patient’s restlessness was a side effect of the medication.
The medication made the patient unable to sit still or relax.
Children often show restlessness when they’re not engaged in an activity.
Kids tend to fidget or act uneasy when they’re bored.
Commonly used in medical contexts to describe physical or mental agitation.
Collocations
feel restlessnessto experience a sense of unease or inability to relaxshow signs of restlessnessto exhibit behaviors indicating discomfort or impatienceovercome restlessnessto manage or reduce feelings of unease
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid confusing 'restlessness' with 'fatigue'—restlessness implies an inability to stay still, while fatigue suggests tiredness.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'restlessness' to describe a state of mental or physical agitation, not general tiredness or boredom.
Word Origin
From Middle English *restlesnes*, equivalent to restless + -ness. The root 'rest' comes from Old English *rǣst* (rest, repose), and the suffix '-less' denotes absence (from Old English *-lēas*). First recorded in the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Restlessness often implies a lack of patience or discomfort with inactivity. It can be physical (e.g., fidgeting) or mental (e.g., racing thoughts). In psychology, it may relate to conditions like ADHD or anxiety disorders.
Word Breakdown
rest
a state of repose or inactivity
root-less
without
suffix-ness
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary