sleep

1 of 2

noun

1
: the natural, easily reversible periodic state of many living things that is marked by the absence of wakefulness and by the loss of consciousness of one's surroundings, is accompanied by a typical body posture (such as lying down with the eyes closed), the occurrence of dreaming, and changes in brain activity and physiological functioning, is made up of cycles of non-REM sleep and REM sleep, and is usually considered essential to the restoration and recovery of vital bodily and mental functions
2
: a state resembling sleep: such as
a
: a state of torpid inactivity
b
: death
put a pet cat to sleep
also : trance, coma
c
: the closing of leaves or petals especially at night
d
: a state marked by a diminution of feeling followed by tingling
my foot's gone to sleep
e
: the state of an animal during hibernation
3
a
: a period spent sleeping
b
: night
c
: a day's journey
4
: crusty matter present in the corner of an eye upon awakening
sleeplike adjective

sleep

2 of 2

verb

slept ˈslept How to pronounce sleep (audio) ; sleeping; sleeps

intransitive verb

1
: to rest in a state of sleep
2
: to be in a state (as of quiescence or death) resembling sleep
3
: to have sexual relations
usually used with with
was sleeping with a coworker
see also sleep together

transitive verb

1
: to be slumbering in
slept the sleep of the dead
2
: to get rid of or spend in or by sleep
sleep away the hours
sleep off a headache
3
: to provide sleeping accommodations for
the boat sleeps six

Examples of sleep in a Sentence

Noun I just need to get some sleep. How much sleep did you get last night? Her roommate talks in her sleep. The noise woke her from a deep sleep. He woke up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Verb I couldn't sleep last night. I was awake all night long. I usually try to sleep for at least eight hours every night. Did you sleep soundly last night? We were sleeping peacefully when a sudden loud noise woke us up. I can never sleep on airplanes. The tent sleeps five adults.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Signs your antidepressant isn't working include developing unpleasant side effects, having worsening symptoms, and not getting enough sleep. Health Editorial Team, Health, 23 Mar. 2024 The cold allows the crops to go into dormancy, much like people need sleep. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 She was prescribed a complex and ever-changing array of hormones for an array of needs: managing her thirst, regulating her sleep, sustaining her immune system. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 With these experts’ help, the team created 29 products to help cats and dogs eat, sleep, play, and hide in style. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 Imagine flying nearly 6,100 miles across 16 time zones, through sleep deprivation and wallet-draining investments that spiked to as much as $12,000, to see a baseball game. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 For example, alpha waves, with frequencies of 8 to 12 hertz, tend to appear during deep relaxation or sleep. Elizabeth Landau, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 To help save energy, it is equipped with a sleep mode that turns the car off after five minutes of inactivity—a very helpful feature for little ones with short attention spans. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024 Alternative methods for creating closeness are imperative to not allowing sleep divorce to ruin your relationship. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 16 Mar. 2024
Verb
Musk notoriously slept on the factory floors at Tesla before moving to nap under his desk so his team could see him. Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024 Gratitude: Known for boosting happiness, counting your blessings is also a good way to relax and sleep, according to research. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024 Other signs, Schneider said, include not wanting to be separated from the adult who’s sick, not sleeping independently or not wanting to go to school. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Most rioters drove themselves to Washington, paid their airfare and hotel bills out of pocket, slept on couches, or set up crowdfunding sites. Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. Amanda Oliver, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2024 The actress said her mom hoarded, and their family home was cramped and cluttered — so much so that Jennette at her brothers slept on mats in the living room. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Researchers found that people who slept fewer than six hours increased their chances of developing the disease. Maggie O'Neill, Health, 20 Mar. 2024 In concrete terms, rules can be put in place to gradually sleep in separate rooms, such as sleeping separately on weeknights, and together on weekends. Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sleep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English slepe, from Old English slǣp; akin to Old High German slāf sleep and perhaps to Latin labi to slip, slide

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleep was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sleep

Cite this Entry

“Sleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sleep

1 of 2 noun
1
: the natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored
2
: a state resembling sleep: as
a
: a state of inactivity (as hibernation) like sleep
b
: death sense 4
put my pet cat to sleep
c
: a state marked by loss of feeling followed by tingling
my foot's gone to sleep
sleeplike adjective

sleep

2 of 2 verb
slept ˈslept How to pronounce sleep (audio) ; sleeping
1
: to rest or be in a state of sleep
2
: to get rid of or spend in or by sleep
slept off his headache
3
: to provide sleeping space for
the boat sleeps six
4
: to have sexual intercourse

Medical Definition

sleep

1 of 2 noun
1
: the natural, easily reversible, periodic state of many living things that is marked by the absence of wakefulness and by the loss of consciousness of one's surroundings, is accompanied by a typical body posture (as lying down with the eyes closed), the occurrence of dreaming, and changes in brain activity and physiological functioning, is made up of cycles of non-REM sleep and REM sleep, and is usually considered essential to the restoration and recovery of vital bodily and mental functions
2
: a state resembling sleep: as
a
: death sense 1
put a pet cat to sleep
b
: a state marked by a diminution of feeling followed by tingling
her foot went to sleep

sleep

2 of 2 intransitive verb
slept ˈslept How to pronounce sleep (audio) ; sleeping
: to rest in a state of sleep

More from Merriam-Webster on sleep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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