restively r in a restive manner he sat down again, restively Usage(s) Stotesbury, exhausted by travel and controversy, and President Loomis withdrew to the directors' room to wait restively for decision Loree v. But beyond the walls of the Beaux Arts, a few men were stirring restively. Police officers clad in helmets and riot gear stood by looking bored, twirling their batons restively.