restlessness

American  

[rest-lis-nis] / ˈrɛst lɪs nɪs /

noun

1. the inability to remain still or at rest, or a mood characterized by this.

   To overcome younger students’ restlessness and anxiety, one expert suggests class routines, role play activities, and other calming exercises.

2. the fact of being unable to sleep or find a comfortable position in which to sleep.

   I haven't been sleeping so well lately—a mix of restlessness and staying up too late watching movies.

3. discontent or dissatisfaction that drives one to keep looking for solutions, alternatives, or new things.

   We are incomplete beings yearning to be made whole, dogged by a sense of unease and restlessness.

4. perpetual movement.

   Growing up on the coast of Sydney as he did, his music is influenced by the restlessness of the ocean.

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Etymology

Origin of restlessness

restless ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Each configuration seems contingent, not fixed, as if in a process of perpetual transition driven by some invisible force—tectonic restlessness or a growth hormone, say.

From The Wall Street Journal

His restlessness, be it musical, culinary or otherwise cultural, took him to San Francisco and New York.

From Los Angeles Times

And while her work is animated by a feverish restlessness, it’s remarkable how consistent and inimitable her artistry remained over three quarters of a century.

From The Wall Street Journal

As the day of the full moon dawned and blossomed, her restlessness turned into something more, well, cowlike.

From Literature

Depression was assessed through a questionnaire asking about depressed mood, disinterest, restlessness or lethargy during the previous two weeks.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• agitation
• anxiety
• disquiet
• ferment
• insomnia
• instability
• jitters
• nervousness
• uneasiness