to feel restless

USAGE SUMMARY

"to feel restless" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a state of unease or inability to relax. Example: "After sitting for hours, I began to feel restless." Alternative expressions include "to feel uneasy" and "to feel agitated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

She said she had come to feel restless at the Daily Beast.

The New York Times

In the period following these successes, Menotti began to feel restless in America, even if he did not lack work.

The Guardian

But the people who should really be watching them are men in long-term heterosexual relationships who are starting to feel restless.

The New York Times - Arts

He was a voracious reader and an inveterate traveller, once commenting "if I haven't been on a plane for a week I begin to feel restless".

The New York Times

After Duncan had been back home for a while in Los Angeles, where Elizabeth was then living, he began to feel restless and anxious.

The New Yorker

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1899) At the family's summer house on the Gulf coast, Edna Pontellier begins to feel restless.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Simply slip it into your purse or back pocket and pull it out when you feel restless to draw or write on the go.

WikiHow

Moreover, most underweight patients feel restless owing to their mental and physical condition, with this restlessness making participation in psychotherapeutic sessions problematic.

BMC Psychiatry

To this day I still feel restless often and somehow photography is the only thing that makes my restlessness make sense.

Vice

"I feel restless, so to speak.

The New York Times - Sports

That is to say, one person can't feel restless at home but comfortable at a busy bar while the other person feels the total opposite.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to feel restless" when describing a mild state of unease or an inability to relax, often due to boredom or a lack of stimulation. The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "to feel restless" in your writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "agitated", "uneasy", or "antsy" to maintain reader engagement and convey subtle differences in meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to feel restless" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as a verb complement to describe a state of being. As Ludwig indicates, it's a common way to express a sense of unease or inability to relax.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

23%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to feel restless" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a state of unease or inability to relax. While Ludwig indicates the phrase is not extremely common, it appears consistently in a variety of contexts, especially within News & Media. When writing, remember that using synonyms, is a good practice to maintain engagement and convey subtle differences in meaning, is a great way to avoid overuse. Consider this as a straightforward and usable phrase to incorporate in a variety of works.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to experience restlessness

Formal; replaces "feel" with "experience" for a more detached tone.

to be restless

Simplifies the phrase by removing "feel", focusing on the state of being.

to sense a restlessness

Subtly shifts the focus to perception, suggesting a less direct experience.

to have a restless feeling

Reorders the words slightly, emphasizing the feeling itself.

to feel agitated

Replaces "restless" with a more intense synonym, suggesting a higher level of unease.

to feel uneasy

Uses a more general term for discomfort, lessening the specific sense of "restless".

to feel antsy

Uses a more informal and colloquial term for "restless".

to feel like one needs a change

Explains the feeling of restlessness in terms of needing a change of scenery or activity.

to crave excitement

Focuses on the desire for stimulation that can accompany restlessness.

to be itching for something new

Uses an idiom to convey the desire for novelty that can cause restlessness.

FAQs

What does it mean "to feel restless"?

To "feel restless" means experiencing a state of unease, agitation, or inability to relax or stay still, often stemming from boredom or a need for activity or change.

How can I use "to feel restless" in a sentence?

You can use "to feel restless" to describe a person's emotional or physical state. For example: "After sitting for hours, I began "to feel restless" and needed to stretch my legs."

What are some alternative ways to express the feeling of being restless?

You can use alternatives like "to feel agitated", "to feel uneasy", or "to feel antsy" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "to be restless" or "to feel restless"?

Both "to be restless" and "to feel restless" are correct and commonly used. "To feel restless" emphasizes the subjective experience of restlessness, while "to be restless" focuses on the state of being restless.