Restless

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛstlɪs/

Definitions

1. Unable to relax or stay still, often due to anxiety, boredom, or a strong desire for change or action
2. Experiencing an inability to remain calm or stationary, frequently stemming from feelings of unease, irritation, or a compelling need for movement or variety
3. Characterized by a constant state of agitation or fidgeting, often influenced by a lack of satisfaction or an urge for new experiences or endeavors

Etymology: The word is a plain compound, and its story lies in the two halves. "Rest" came into Old English as "ræst", a word for a bed or a place of repose, and "-less" is the old suffix meaning "without". Put together, Old English "ræstlēas" meant "without rest" or "lacking a bed to lie on," and it carried the literal sense of being unable to find repose in a fixed place. Over the Middle English period the word became "restles" and "restelees", forms that show the suffix gradually reshaping the spelling. The sense moved steadily from the physical idea of having no place to lie down toward the mental state we know now: a mind or body that cannot settle, whether from worry, impatience or a craving for change.

Synonyms: uneasy, agitated, fidgety, nervous, discontented

Antonyms: calm, tranquil, peaceful, settled, content