Meaning & use
microsleeps
Last updated
“microsleeps” is a form of “microsleep”.
Meaning
nounplural
Very short periods of sleep, lasting only a few seconds, that you cannot control.
Grammar: Usually used in the plural; the singular form is microsleep.
Patterns
- have microsleeps
- experience microsleeps
- suffer from microsleeps
Drivers who are very tired may have microsleeps without realizing it.
The doctor warned him that microsleeps could be dangerous at work.
People with sleep problems often experience microsleeps during the day.
Word forms
| singular | microsleep |
|---|
Common combinations
- have microsleeps
- He had microsleeps while watching TV late at night.
- experience microsleeps
- Shift workers often experience microsleeps on the job.
- dangerous microsleeps
- Dangerous microsleeps can happen when you drive for too long without rest.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nap
- A nap is a short, planned sleep, often lasting minutes, while microsleeps are accidental and last only seconds.
Word family
- microsleep noun
- The singular form, meaning one very short, uncontrolled sleep.
Commonly confused: microsleeps or microscope?
microsleeps vs microscope
A microscope is a scientific instrument for looking at very small things. Microsleeps are brief moments of sleep.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'microsleeps' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Microsleeps are short, uncontrolled moments of sleep, so 'had several microsleeps during the long drive' fits. A microscope is an instrument, and a planned rest is a nap, not a microsleep.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “microsleeps”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.