# unrest

/ənˈɹɛst/ (US) · /ʌnɹˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unrest
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. political or social trouble

noun · CEFR B2

a state of public anger or worry, often involving protests, strikes, or riots.

For teachers: a state of turbulence or agitation within a population, typically manifesting as political protests or civil disobedience.

- The government is trying to stop the civil unrest by talking to the protesters.
- Widespread economic hardship and rising food prices have triggered a period of intense social unrest across the northern provinces.

Usage: Usually uncountable; often preceded by adjectives like 'civil', 'political', or 'social'.

### 2. personal worry

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a feeling of being worried, nervous, or not at peace.

For teachers: a state of individual mental or emotional agitation; a lack of tranquility.

- He felt a deep sense of unrest and couldn't stop thinking about his future.
- A growing spiritual unrest drove the poet to seek solitude in the mountains, far from the distractions of the city.

Usage: Uncountable in this abstract sense.

## Examples

- The new tax law caused widespread unrest in the city.
- The government called for a meeting with local leaders to address the growing civil unrest before it turned into violence.
- Historians often point to the period of industrial unrest as the primary catalyst for the sweeping labor reforms that followed in the subsequent decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.