listless
Listless (adj) means lacking energy or enthusiasm; tired and uninterested in doing anything. Example: “The heat left everyone feeling listless by mid-afternoon.”
How to Use Listless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling drained, flat, and uninterested in anything.
Nothing to do with the everyday sense of "list" (a series of items) — this listless comes from an old word for desire.
Word Forms
more listless comparative, most listless superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The heat left everyone feeling _____ by mid-afternoon.
Etymology
From Middle English lystles — literally "without desire" (list here is an old word for "desire," not the modern sense of a list of items) plus the suffix -less.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “listless” mean?
The word “listless” means lacking energy or enthusiasm; tired and uninterested in doing anything. In plain terms, feeling drained, flat, and uninterested in anything.
How do you pronounce “listless”?
“Listless” is pronounced LIHST-lihs (/ˈlɪstlɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “listless” in a sentence?
Here is “listless” used in a sentence: “The heat left everyone feeling listless by mid-afternoon.”
What part of speech is “listless”?
“Listless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “listless” come from?
The word “listless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English lystles — literally "without desire" (list here is an old word for "desire," not the modern sense of a list of items) plus the suffix -less.