restlessrest‧less /ˈrestləs/ ●○○ adjective 
The children had been indoors all day, and were getting restless.2unwilling to stay in one place, and always wanting new experiences: After a few weeks in Marseille, I grew restless and decided to move on.3restless night a night during which you cannot sleep or rest—restlessly adverb—restlessness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- His restless imagination led him to develop a revolutionary software product.
- The kids quickly grew restless and impatient.
- As a precaution, I taped plastic sheeting over both seats, in case he got restless on his perch.
- But once again I grew restless.
- I went off so often Frank began to notice and I said the heat made me restless.
- She drifted outside, restless even in the garden - was it too ordered?
- They have, almost as a birthright, a restless dissatisfaction with the status quo.
- Thinking a great many thoughts about home and the morrow, we dropped off at last into a restless sleep.
Longman Language Activatorto sleep badly or be unable to sleep
to wake up often during the night, and not feel rested or comfortable: · I'm sorry, I didn't sleep very well last night and it's put me in a bad mood.· They slept badly on the hard bamboo floor.
to be unable to go to sleep especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · If you can't get to sleep, don't get up or have a meal or snack; relax and read quietly instead.· I just couldn't get to sleep, what with all the traffic and people in the street.
to sleep badly and only for short periods, especially because of noise, worries, pain etc: · The people next door are having a party, so we probably won't get much sleep tonight.· She cried all last night and I didn't get much sleep either.
to be someone who is easily woken when there is any movement or noise: · I'm a light sleeper - so I woke up as soon as I heard him come in.· I just hope your dad isn't a light sleeper.
informal to not sleep at all during the night, especially because you are worried, angry, upset etc: · I was so worried, I didn't sleep a wink last night.hardly/barely sleep a wink: · He had hardly slept a wink all night, beside himself with jealousy and anger.
to be in bed unable to sleep, especially because you are worried or excited about something: · I used to lie awake at night wondering what had happened to her.· I lay awake the whole night after I read the letter, thinking about what it could mean.· We'd lie awake, listening to our parents arguing in the room below.
to keep changing your position in bed because you are unable to sleep and do not feel comfortable: · She had slept badly, tossing and turning before falling into a fitful doze.· Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, or do you toss and turn for hours before dropping off?
a night when you cannot sleep at all: · After a sleepless night, she looked almost as pale and exhausted as Elinor.give somebody a sleepless night (=make someone worry so much that they cannot sleep): · He's given us a few sleepless nights over the years, but we love him.spend a sleepless night: · Tom had spent a sleepless night on the sofa.
a night during which you sleep badly, keep changing your position in bed, and wake up often: · Another restless night followed, but she determinedly settled down to work again the next morning.· I'd had quite a restless night, and breakfast didn't look appetizing.
the inability to sleep at night: · Working outdoors all day certainly did wonders for my insomnia.· a cure for insomniasuffer from insomnia: · He suffered from insomnia and was taking sleeping pills each night.chronic insomnia (=when this happens to you a lot over a long period of time): · My mother was alarmed by my fits of weeping and chronic insomnia.
an inability to sleep that continues for several nights or more: · His eyes were still red-rimmed from tears and sleeplessness.· Sleeplessness and loss of appetite are common signs of stress.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The children had been indoors all day, and were getting restless.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The children had been indoors all day, and were getting restless. (=a feeling of being worried and unable to relax)· My nervous excitement increased with each passing minute.
(=in which you keep moving or waking)· My alarm woke me from a fitful sleep.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· When Moran came back he was even more restless.· As the crowd grew more restless, the speaker before Alan showed a film about rats whose longevity had been extended.· He was much more restless than last night, and, despite sleeping drugs, much more wakeful.· Spring comes early to the Riviera and it made Modigliani, always sensitive to change, more restless than ever.· But as the business grew Mark became ever more restless.· The outbreak of war made him more restless.
NOUN· After a restless night, she tried again next morning, but with no more success.· I had quite a restless night, and did not really fancy the tea I was brought in the morning.· Something of the atmosphere in Roxie Farmer's house seemed to go home with Coffin and give him a restless night.· Sir John had spent a restless night, tossing from side to side in his great double bed.· After such a restless night, no doubt arguments were inevitable.· Her sleepless, restless night seemed a long way off.· She had a restless night and is finding it difficult to sleep because of the memories of the attack.· Hopefully Bill Gates will have a few restless nights too.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- Another restless night followed, but she determinedly settled down to work again the next morning.
- I'd had quite a restless night, and breakfast didn't look appetizing.
- After a restless night, she tried again next morning, but with no more success.
- After such a restless night, no doubt arguments were inevitable.
- Her sleepless, restless night seemed a long way off.
- Hopefully Bill Gates will have a few restless nights too.
- I had quite a restless night, and did not really fancy the tea I was brought in the morning.
- She had a restless night and is finding it difficult to sleep because of the memories of the attack.
- Sir John had spent a restless night, tossing from side to side in his great double bed.
- Something of the atmosphere in Roxie Farmer's house seemed to go home with Coffin and give him a restless night.
WORD FAMILYnounrestunrestrestlessnessadjectiverestlessrestedrestfuladverbrestlesslyrestfullyverbrest
1unwilling to keep still or stay where you are, especially because you are nervous or bored SYN fidgetybecome/grow/get restless The children had been indoors all day, and were getting restless.2unwilling to stay in one place, and always wanting new experiences: After a few weeks in Marseille, I grew restless and decided to move on.3restless night a night during which you cannot sleep or rest—restlessly adverb—restlessness noun [uncountable]