Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

restless

/ˈɹɛstlɪs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.60 in modern English

Syllables: rest-less
IPA: /ˈɹɛstlɪs/

8

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not allowing or affording rest.

adj

Without rest; unable to be still or quiet; uneasy; continually moving.

adj

Not satisfied to be at rest or in peace; averse to repose; eager for change; discontented.

adj

Deprived of rest or sleep.

Example Sentences

"The night before his wedding was a restless one."
"He was a restless child."
"She sat, restless and nervous, and tried to concentrate."
"If that is the case, she recommends getting up, walking around the house and doing some stretches to ease the restless feeling before trying again to get to sleep."
"A restless ambition."
"They remained restless, sitting by the window the entire night."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *rastō Proto-West Germanic *rastu Old English ræst Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Old English ræstlēas Middle English restles English restless From Middle English restles, restelees, from Old English ræstlēas, equivalent to rest + -less.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: restles, ræstlēas

Inflected Forms

more restless (comparative) most restless (superlative)

Derived Forms

restlessly restlessness

Phrases

restless cavy restless flycatcher restless genital syndrome restless legs restless legs syndrome restless leg syndrome the natives are getting restless the natives are restless

Synonyms

antsy ungratified unsatisfied uneasy fidgety fretful itchy

Questions

How do you pronounce restless?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹɛstlɪs/.
What does restless mean?: Not allowing or affording rest.
Where does restless come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce restless

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “restless”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹɛstlɪs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “restless”.
Repeat and practice — Say “restless” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.