Meaning & use

sleep

verb·Everyday

To rest in a natural state of reduced consciousness in which the body and mind are inactive.

See it in a sentence

The baby finally fell asleep after her mother sang to her for several minutes.

He rarely sleeps more than five hours a night during exam season.

A note on using this word

As a noun, "sleep" refers to this state itself, as in "a good night's sleep," one of the word's most common everyday uses.

Words with a similar meaning

restdoze

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

wake

Another way to use it

2. noun

The natural state of rest in which the body and mind are inactive.

Doctors recommend at least seven hours of sleep each night for adults.

Make it your own

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