adj
listless
LIHST-lihs
Listless (adj) means lacking energy or enthusiasm; tired and uninterested in doing anything. Example: “The heat left everyone feeling listless by mid-afternoon.”
adj
1
Lacking energy or enthusiasm; tired and uninterested in doing anything.
"“Listless, inattentive, distracted,” he recited. “A daydreamer. Tries his best, but is too slow.”"
— Aryn Baker, John Hardy: Bali Guy (2005)
"The scene with Mrs. Wallace had broken his spirit, and he was listless now, indifferent to what happened."
— William Somerset Maugham (1901)
"The heat left everyone feeling listless by mid-afternoon."
"He's been listless and withdrawn since losing his job."
How to use listless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling drained, flat, and uninterested in anything.
Common mistake
Nothing to do with the everyday sense of "list" (a series of items) — this listless comes from an old word for desire.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more listless
- Superlative
- most listless
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
