1
: into a state of sleep
2
: into the sleep of death
3
: into a state of inactivity, sluggishness, or indifference
Synonyms
Examples of asleep in a Sentence
Adjective
“Are you asleep?” “No, I'm awake.”
He tries to clean up the house while the kids are asleep.
The cats are asleep on the floor.
She was still asleep at noon.
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
In December, Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was found asleep on a Plantation road in a black Bentley with its tail lights on.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
After the discovery on base — she was found asleep in bed at the barracks — the girl was released to the custody of her grandmother.
—Bill Feather, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The next shot is of Ansari’s character asleep in a Denny’s diner booth as he’s reprimanded by a male staff member.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Come June 17, 1994, O.J. led authorities on that slow-speed chase in the white Ford Bronco after spending the previous night at Robert’s house, where Kim and Kourtney had also been asleep.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The mother of four immediately called her husband, who was asleep.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
When a right-wing website called 1819 News exposed his deepest secrets, his life wasn’t the only thing that was destroyed:
When the story hit the next morning, Bubba’s son Carter, a junior at Auburn, was still asleep.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2024
While everyone was asleep halfway around the world, my phone was silent and my inbox was blissfully empty.
—Teddy Minford, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
Whether from a mental health disorder or periodic stress, managing anxiety—and learning ways to fall back asleep—can be a critical part of maintaining your overall health.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 23 Sep. 2023
Panel three: Garfield has fallen back asleep, a tell-tale Z suspended above his head.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2023
Mike Barber was helping his 8-year-old son fall back asleep.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
But be careful napping within five hours of your bedtime, Feinsilver cautions, as this may disrupt your ability to fall asleep later.
—Amanda MacMillan, Outside Online, 15 Sep. 2014
The way the teenager glides on the football field gives Jones chills, just like the kid’s ability to fall asleep nearly anywhere off it.
—Jonathan Abrams, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2022
Heather Dawes took a photo of father and son, making sure not to awaken one-year-old Finis, who had fallen asleep strapped to her chest at the start of the hike.
—Alex Temblador, Outside Online, 11 Aug. 2021
To launch the new theme, there’ll be a new program of four 20-minute sessions to help users relax and fall asleep more easily.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 5 Jan. 2023
Adjective
But the tips in his pocket bought food for the growing twin boys waiting for him at home, on this night probably asleep in their beds by now.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
In December, Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was found asleep on a Plantation road in a black Bentley with its tail lights on.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
After the discovery on base — she was found asleep in bed at the barracks — the girl was released to the custody of her grandmother.
—Bill Feather, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The next shot is of Ansari’s character asleep in a Denny’s diner booth as he’s reprimanded by a male staff member.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Come June 17, 1994, O.J. led authorities on that slow-speed chase in the white Ford Bronco after spending the previous night at Robert’s house, where Kim and Kourtney had also been asleep.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The mother of four immediately called her husband, who was asleep.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
When a right-wing website called 1819 News exposed his deepest secrets, his life wasn’t the only thing that was destroyed:
When the story hit the next morning, Bubba’s son Carter, a junior at Auburn, was still asleep.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2024
While everyone was asleep halfway around the world, my phone was silent and my inbox was blissfully empty.
—Teddy Minford, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Spears also included a video clip of her husband fast asleep while her show played on a TV screen in the background.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
Whether from a mental health disorder or periodic stress, managing anxiety—and learning ways to fall back asleep—can be a critical part of maintaining your overall health.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 23 Sep. 2023
Panel three: Garfield has fallen back asleep, a tell-tale Z suspended above his head.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2023
Mike Barber was helping his 8-year-old son fall back asleep.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
But be careful napping within five hours of your bedtime, Feinsilver cautions, as this may disrupt your ability to fall asleep later.
—Amanda MacMillan, Outside Online, 15 Sep. 2014
The way the teenager glides on the football field gives Jones chills, just like the kid’s ability to fall asleep nearly anywhere off it.
—Jonathan Abrams, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2022
Heather Dawes took a photo of father and son, making sure not to awaken one-year-old Finis, who had fallen asleep strapped to her chest at the start of the hike.
—Alex Temblador, Outside Online, 11 Aug. 2021
To launch the new theme, there’ll be a new program of four 20-minute sessions to help users relax and fall asleep more easily.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 5 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asleep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near asleep
Cite this Entry
“Asleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asleep. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share