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
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
4
: crusty matter present in the corner of an eye upon awakening
slept
ˈslept 
; sleeping; sleeps
; sleeping; sleeps
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
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
Synonyms
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
Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2024
The devices are designed to force extra air down the throat to treat obstructive apnea — an ailment that interferes with proper sleep and can cause fatal heart problems.
—Cagan Koc, Fortune Europe, 29 Apr. 2024
The company crafts each pillow to your sleep positions, body stats, and preferences based on your answers from a special quiz.
—Sarah Garone, Parents, 28 Apr. 2024
Well for one, nothing disturbs restful sleep on a plane quite like waking up with parched, dry lips.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
The Lumen coach in the video says that chronic stress, lack of sleep, or too much or too little exercise will also impact your metabolic state and shift you into burning more carbs than fat.
—PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
Most vexing was my limited ability to speak—and, later, to speak clearly—and a multi-week battle with chest-rattling hiccups preventing sleep or rest.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
If left untreated, chronic rhinosinusitis can make breathing uncomfortable, affect your quality of sleep, and decrease productivity.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Though Ruthie initially attempts to indulge Mary Jane, pity takes over, and the older woman instead begins to advise her tenant on the wonders of good sleep hygiene and self-care.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024
Even the family cat slept curled, tightly but voluntarily, inside a beaker in the lab, and Naomi’s dollhouse was decorated in part by famous scientists—including Nobel Prize–winning physicist Niels Bohr, who brought Naomi a little toy jug for her miniature estate.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
The disease can severely impact everyday functions such a sleeping, bathing, and walking, and is known to result high rates of depression and anxiety.
—Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
The husband slept, the wife lay awake listening to the husband’s heavy breathing.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Nocturnal tornadoes are difficult to spot in the darkness and those sleeping may not be aware danger is near.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Speaking of not sleeping, N.Y.C.’s Soho district is filled with world-class shopping, culture, and entertainment options that keep you in tune with the latest.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The city that never sleeps, New York, has lost 13% of its 24-hour restaurants.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
A lot of people sleep on what Dawkins has been doing.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
This one has a hose attached to a motor that slowly lowers the oxygen level to mimic, as faithfully as possible, the agonies of fitful sleep at extreme altitude: headaches, dry mouth, cerebral malaise.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2024
The devices are designed to force extra air down the throat to treat obstructive apnea — an ailment that interferes with proper sleep and can cause fatal heart problems.
—Cagan Koc, Fortune Europe, 29 Apr. 2024
The company crafts each pillow to your sleep positions, body stats, and preferences based on your answers from a special quiz.
—Sarah Garone, Parents, 28 Apr. 2024
Well for one, nothing disturbs restful sleep on a plane quite like waking up with parched, dry lips.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
The Lumen coach in the video says that chronic stress, lack of sleep, or too much or too little exercise will also impact your metabolic state and shift you into burning more carbs than fat.
—PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
Most vexing was my limited ability to speak—and, later, to speak clearly—and a multi-week battle with chest-rattling hiccups preventing sleep or rest.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
If left untreated, chronic rhinosinusitis can make breathing uncomfortable, affect your quality of sleep, and decrease productivity.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Though Ruthie initially attempts to indulge Mary Jane, pity takes over, and the older woman instead begins to advise her tenant on the wonders of good sleep hygiene and self-care.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024
Even the family cat slept curled, tightly but voluntarily, inside a beaker in the lab, and Naomi’s dollhouse was decorated in part by famous scientists—including Nobel Prize–winning physicist Niels Bohr, who brought Naomi a little toy jug for her miniature estate.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
The disease can severely impact everyday functions such a sleeping, bathing, and walking, and is known to result high rates of depression and anxiety.
—Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
The husband slept, the wife lay awake listening to the husband’s heavy breathing.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Nocturnal tornadoes are difficult to spot in the darkness and those sleeping may not be aware danger is near.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Speaking of not sleeping, N.Y.C.’s Soho district is filled with world-class shopping, culture, and entertainment options that keep you in tune with the latest.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The city that never sleeps, New York, has lost 13% of its 24-hour restaurants.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
A lot of people sleep on what Dawkins has been doing.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Apr. 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.
Articles Related to sleep
Dictionary Entries Near sleep
Cite this Entry
“Sleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sleep
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
also
: coma entry 1, trance
c
: a state marked by loss of feeling followed by tingling
my foot's gone to sleep
sleep
2 of 2 verb
slept
ˈslept
; sleeping
; 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 noun1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share