Definition of “sleep” - English Dictionary

American
Contents

“sleep” in English

See all translations

sleepnoun

uk ​ /sliːp/ us ​ /sliːp/

sleep noun (NOT AWAKE)

B1 [ U ] the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious:

I must get some sleep - I'm exhausted.
See also
sleepwalker
get/go to sleep

B1 to succeed in sleeping:

I couldn't get to sleep at all last night I was so worried.
You'll find that your baby usually goes to sleep after a feed.

B1 [ C ] a period of sleeping:

UK You must be tired after all that driving - why don't you have a little sleep?
He fell into a deep sleep.
You'll feel better after a good night's sleep.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

could do sth in your sleep
go back to sleep!
go to sleep
put sth to sleep

sleepverb

uk ​ /sliːp/ us ​ /sliːp/ slept, slept

A1 [ I ] to be in the state of rest when your eyes are closed, your body is not active, and your mind is unconscious:

I couldn't sleep because of all the noise next door.
I slept late on Sunday morning.
How can Jayne sleep at night with all those worries on her mind!
We had dinner with Ann and Charles and slept the night there (= at their home).
See also
oversleep
sleepout

› [ T ] If a vehicle, tent, etc. sleeps a particular number of people, it provides enough space or beds for that number of people to be able to sleep in it:

The tent sleeps four comfortably.
sleep like a log informal

› to sleep very well:

I went to bed early and slept like a log.
sleep on sth

C2 to delay making a decision about something important until the next day so that you have time to consider it carefully:

Can I sleep on it, and tell you my decision tomorrow?
sleep rough UK

› to sleep outside because you have no home and no money:

Hundreds of kids are sleeping rough on the streets of the capital.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

sleeping
adjective uk ​ /ˈsliː.pɪŋ/ us ​ /ˈsliː.pɪŋ/

›

She looked lovingly at the sleeping child.
See also
asleep

Phrasal verb(s)

sleep around
sleep in
sleep sth off
sleep over
sleep through sth
sleep together
sleep with sb

(Definition of “sleep” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“sleep” in American English

See all translations

sleepnoun [ U ]

us ​ /slip/

› the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious:

I usually sit up in bed and watch the TV news before going to sleep.

sleepverb [ I/T ]

us ​ /slip/ past tense and past participle slept /slept/

› to be in a resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious:

[ I ] I was too excited to sleep much that night.
[ T ] The boat sleeps four (= has space for four people to sleep) comfortably.

Idiom(s)

sleep it off
sleep like a log
sleep on it

Phrasal verb(s)

sleep in

(Definition of “sleep” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “sleep”
 
Need a translator?

Translator tool

Get a quick, free translation!

What is the pronunciation of sleep?
Browse