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

Restlessness defined his career: “I write poetry, essays, opera libretti, even scientific articles. But I am not a specialist,” he explained to the Irish Times in 2003.

From Washington Post • Nov. 28, 2022

If New York mayors sometimes suffer from what might be called Mayoral Restlessness Syndrome, the current mayor, Bill de Blasio, has an early-onset case, having held his job for a mere seventeen months.

From The New Yorker • May 26, 2015

Restlessness and curiosity were traits shared by many of Bell Labs’ most creative staff members.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2012

Restlessness can creep into a home crowd that is here for a show if they are forced to wait for the entertainment.

From The Guardian • Sep. 7, 2010

Restlessness is not a useful quality in a tree.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

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