restlessly

restlessly — adverb

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

1.副詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • calmly

    without agitation or hurry; the opposite emotional state

  • peacefully

    suggests quiet contentment, the opposite of restless worry

文法句型

moves/shifts/paces + restlessly

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.