restlessly

restlessly — adverb

1. constantly moving or shifting position because worry, impatience, or boredom mak

1.adverbB2
Definition

constantly moving or shifting position because worry, impatience, or boredom makes it difficult to relax or stay calm

Example

Eli tossed restlessly in bed, worrying about the exam results the next morning.

restlessly + verb of physical movement (tossed in bed)

The audience shifted restlessly in their seats as the speaker paused for a long time.

Common collocations
  • shift restlessly
  • pace restlessly
  • toss restlessly
  • wait restlessly
  • fidget restlessly
  • move restlessly
  • glance restlessly
Synonyms
  • fitfully

    specifically about sleep or movements that are interrupted and irregular; narrower in use

  • uneasily

    focuses more on the anxious feeling than on physical movement

  • agitatedly

    more intense, implying strong emotional disturbance rather than simple impatience or boredom

Antonyms
  • calmly

    without agitation or hurry; the opposite emotional state

  • peacefully

    suggests quiet contentment, the opposite of restless worry

Grammar Patterns

moves/shifts/paces + restlessly

Usage Note

Most common with verbs describing physical movement or position (pace, shift, toss, fidget, wait). In narrative writing, it conveys both the physical inability to stay still and the emotional state behind it — typically worry, boredom, or impatience.

Common Mistakes

She waited restlessly for the bus, standing completely still.
She waited restlessly for the bus, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
'restlessly' should describe visible physical movement or fidgeting, not a still posture.
He restlessly thought about the problem.
He tossed restlessly in bed, thinking about the problem.
'restlessly' typically modifies a physically observable action, not a mental state directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Restlessly describes physical movement driven by inner worry, boredom, or impatience — it is the broadest of the four. Fitfully is restricted to interrupted, uneven patterns, most often describing sleep or breathing (e.g. 'the baby slept fitfully'). Uneasily emphasises the mental discomfort rather than the movement — someone can stand uneasily without fidgeting. Agitatedly implies stronger emotional distress, almost always with visible hurried or jerky movements; it carries a more intense and urgent tone than restlessly. For ordinary impatience or boredom, restlessly is the neutral choice; for severe worry or panic, agitatedly fits better.

restlessly ↗fitfullyuneasilyagitatedly

Common collocations

Phrases

  • pace restlessly
  • shift restlessly
  • toss restlessly
  • wait restlessly
  • fidget restlessly

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'restless' (a person without rest, from Old English 'resteleas') plus the suffix '-ly', which turns adjectives into adverbs. 'Restless' itself combines 'rest' (from Old English 'reste', meaning a state of quiet or sleep) and '-less' (meaning 'without'). The adverb form has been used since at least the 1300s to describe actions done without peace or stillness.