What does listless mean?
Listless describes a person, mood, period, or atmosphere that seems devoid of interest, energy, and enthusiasm. It conveys more than simple tiredness: a listless person appears reluctant to act, respond, or engage, and the surrounding mood often feels flat and uneventful. The adjective is common in both British and American English and can describe anything from a bored child to a prolonged, listless afternoon. Its implications vary with context. A patient described as listless may appear medically unwell, whereas a listless holiday may simply suggest boredom or ennui. Listless therefore often carries a mildly negative or concerned tone, though it can also evoke wistful or literary melancholy. Because it combines ordinary lethargy with a distinct impression of disengagement, listless is especially useful when describing not only low energy but also a lack of will or attention.
adjectiveShowing little interest, energy, or enthusiasm; apathetic and inactive.
- Lacking interest, energy, enthusiasm, or willingness to act.
"A listless afternoon stretched ahead of him, too dull for reading and too warm for a walk."
"After a listless morning, she turned away from the book and watched the rain."
"The patient had become listless and was no longer responding to questions."
Listless was born from an older sense of list: someone “without wish or desire,” a literal ancestor of today's familiar energy slump.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does listless come from?
Listless was formed in the early 17th century by combining list in its older sense of “wish or desire” with the suffix -less. The list element descends from Old English līstan, “to wish, desire,” and is related to an Old High German cognate meaning “skill” or “cleverness.” The word originally conveyed the absence of desire or intention, while its now-dominant sense of lacking energy and enthusiasm developed later.
Related word forms
How listless is actually used
Listless is used in both formal and informal English. It can describe a person, an extended period, or the atmosphere of a place, but it often implies more than ordinary tiredness by suggesting disengagement or a lack of interest.
Easily confused with listless
A listless person lacks energy or interest, whereas a restless person is unable to settle, relax, or stop moving.
Listless specifically suggests a lack of interest or engagement, while lifeless is broader and may imply an absence of vitality, vitality, or emotional feeling.