he was very restless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was very restless" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is unable to relax or stay still, often due to anxiety or impatience. Example: "During the long meeting, he was very restless, shifting in his seat and checking his watch repeatedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He was very restless... always dreaming.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

For example: I don't know, I was just going to say there was a lady here a few weeks back and her family said she was very restless so as soon as they gave her this little (pretend) cat and a basket or a rug or whatever it was, anyway, she just sat there like this and she was… (FG2F8) And she began to open up and speak.

BMC Palliative Care

(FG2M2) I don't know, I was just going to say there was a lady here a few weeks back and her family said she was very restless so as soon as they gave her this little (pretend) cat and a basket or a rug or whatever it was, anyway, she just sat there like this and she was… (FG2F8) And she began to open up and speak.

BMC Palliative Care

On the second night of previews, cast mates noticed that the usually calm Mr. Thomas was very restless during the last scene of the play, when he and Ms. Kirschenbaum were dressed in wedding attire.

The New York Times

I was very restless.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was very restless and wanted to run and climb on the agricultural machines my father sold.

The Guardian - Music

I couldn't sleep during that time and was very restless.

Vice

Thinking back, I was very restless as a girl growing up in Shanghai.

Vice

A marked difference between the first ('sometimes' vs. 'never') and the second thresholds ('mostly/always' vs. 'sometimes') was found for the items 'I didn't enjoy anything', ' I was very restless' and ' I felt miserable or unhappy'.

BMC Psychiatry

The item 'I was very restless' was omitted from the 13-item SMFQ in our models because preliminary models based on the earlier time points suggested that individuals were uncertain about the meaning of this item response rate for this item was noticeably lower and unlike the other 12 items, endorsement rates did not change monotonically with time.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Some hours after this experience, the yogi was very restless.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was very restless" to clearly convey someone's inability to relax or stay still due to anxiety, boredom, or other underlying causes. Ensure the context supports this interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "he was very restless" as a catch-all phrase for any kind of unease or discomfort. Instead, specify the reasons behind the restlessness or use more precise descriptors like "agitated", "fidgety", or "anxious" to provide a clearer picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was very restless" functions as a descriptive statement, attributing a state of restlessness to a subject. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in English. The phrase combines a pronoun, a verb, an adverb, and an adjective to express a condition of unease or agitation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was very restless" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe someone's inability to relax or stay still. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, media, science, and general narratives. While versatile, it's important to use it precisely, avoiding overuse as a vague descriptor. Alternative phrases like "he was agitated" or "he was fidgety" may provide more specific nuances. Remember to use it accurately to describe the underlying cause, ensuring the context supports this interpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

He couldn't sit still

Directly describes the inability to remain seated due to restlessness.

He was quite agitated

Focuses more on the emotional state of agitation rather than physical restlessness.

He was twitchy and uneasy

Combines both physical restlessness (twitchy) and emotional unease.

He was extremely uneasy

Highlights the discomfort and lack of ease the person is experiencing.

He was on edge

Suggests a state of being easily startled or provoked due to underlying tension.

He was unsettled and anxious

Focuses on the internal feeling of being unsettled combined with anxiety.

He was rather fidgety

Emphasizes small movements and an inability to stay still.

He was a bundle of nerves

Similar to 'all nerves', but emphasizes the intensity of the anxiety.

He was all nerves

Implies a state of heightened anxiety and tension.

He had ants in his pants

An idiomatic expression for extreme restlessness and inability to stay still.

FAQs

How can I use "he was very restless" in a sentence?

You can use "he was very restless" to describe someone who is unable to stay still or relax. For example, "During the long meeting, he was very restless, constantly shifting in his seat".

What can I say instead of "he was very restless"?

Alternatives include "he was quite agitated", "he was extremely uneasy", or "he was rather fidgety", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he was very restless"?

Yes, the phrase "he was very restless" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe someone's state of being unable to relax or stay still.

What's the difference between "he was restless" and "he was very restless"?

The addition of "very" intensifies the degree of restlessness. "He was restless" implies a general state, while "he was very restless" suggests a more pronounced and noticeable inability to relax or stay still.