un ‧ rest /ʌnˈrest/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rest , ↑ unrest , ↑ restlessness ; adjective : ↑ restless , ↑ rested , ↑ restful ; adverb : ↑ restlessly , ↑ restfully ; verb : ↑ rest ]
a political situation in which people protest or behave violently:
There is growing unrest throughout the country.
political/social/industrial etc unrest
The protests were the biggest show of social unrest since the government came to power.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + unrest
▪ social unrest
The policy led to rising unemployment and social unrest.
▪ political unrest
A month of political unrest followed the killing of 12 protesters by the police.
▪ industrial unrest
The wave of nation-wide strikes and industrial unrest continued throughout the winter.
▪ civil unrest (=between groups of people in a country, or between the people and the government)
Our country is being ripped apart by civil unrest.
▪ student unrest
Anti-war demonstrations became the focus of student unrest in the early 1970s.
▪ urban unrest (=in towns or cities)
Unemployment and poor housing were significant causes of urban unrest.
▪ growing/mounting unrest
Rocketing unemployment led to growing unrest in the country.
▪ serious unrest
We are receiving reports of serious unrest in areas of northern India.
▪ widespread unrest (=existing in many places or among many people)
As prices soared, there was widespread unrest.
■ phrases
▪ an outbreak of unrest
Troops usually respond to outbreaks of unrest with force.
▪ a wave of unrest (=a sudden increase in unrest)
A wave of unrest had resulted in seven deaths.
▪ a period of unrest
The election results were followed by a long period of unrest.
■ verbs
▪ cause/provoke/spark unrest
The introduction of new working practices provoked severe industrial unrest.
▪ lead to unrest
Food shortages led to widespread social unrest.
▪ quell unrest (=stop it)
Troops were brought in to quell the unrest.