asleep

asleep — adjective

1. in the natural resting state where the eyes are closed, the body is still, and t

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

in the natural resting state where the eyes are closed, the body is still, and the mind is no longer aware of what is happening around it.

Example

By nine o'clock the twin babies were already asleep in their cots.

predicative: be + asleep

The cat was asleep on the windowsill all afternoon, only its tail twitching now and then.

predicative: be asleep + location

Common collocations
  • fast asleep
  • sound asleep
  • half asleep
  • fall asleep
  • stay asleep
Synonyms
  • sleeping

    the only form usable before a noun

  • dozing

    lighter sleep, often during the day

  • slumbering

    literary, suggests deep peaceful sleep

Antonyms
  • awake

    predicative opposite, eyes open and alert

  • alert

    fully awake and paying attention

Grammar Patterns

be asleep

fall asleep

fast/sound asleep

Usage Note

Predicative only — placed after a verb such as be, fall, stay, or seem. You cannot say 'an asleep child'; use 'a sleeping child' before the noun.

Common Mistakes

She comforted the asleep baby.
She comforted the sleeping baby.
'asleep' cannot sit before a noun; use 'sleeping' there.
I was very asleep.
I was fast asleep.' / 'I was sound asleep.
degree is shown by 'fast' or 'sound', not 'very'.

2. in the moment of passing from being awake into sleep, usually used after the ver

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

in the moment of passing from being awake into sleep, usually used after the verb 'fall' and often happening without you meaning to.

Example

Esme always falls asleep within five minutes of finishing her bedtime story.

fall asleep + time phrase

The toddler fell asleep on his father's shoulder during the long flight home.

Common collocations
  • fall asleep quickly
  • fall asleep at the wheel
  • fall asleep in front of the TV
Synonyms
  • doze off

    informal, often unintended

  • nod off

    informal, briefly drifting into sleep while sitting

  • drop off

    informal British, similar to nod off

Antonyms
  • wake up

    the opposite movement, leaving sleep

Grammar Patterns

fall asleep

drift off to sleep

Usage Note

This sense exists almost only in the fixed pattern 'fall asleep' (and the gentler 'drift off to sleep'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 names the state, this sense names the moment of entering it.

Common Mistakes

I asleep at midnight.
I fell asleep at midnight.
'asleep' is not a verb; the verb is 'fall' (past 'fell').

3. of a leg, foot, hand, or arm: temporarily without normal feeling and hard to mov

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

of a leg, foot, hand, or arm: temporarily without normal feeling and hard to move, because pressure has cut off the blood supply while it stayed in one position.

Example

After kneeling for an hour at the temple, Hana's left leg was completely asleep.

subject is a body part

I shook my hand because my fingers had gone asleep under the pillow.

go + asleep for body parts

Common collocations
  • leg/foot/hand is asleep
  • go asleep
Synonyms
  • numb

    more general, covers cold or shock too

  • tingling

    the prickly feeling as sensation returns

Grammar Patterns

[body part] is asleep

Usage Note

Subject must be a body part (leg, foot, hand, arm, fingers). Often introduced with 'go' rather than 'be' to highlight the change: 'my foot has gone asleep'. Distinguish from sense 1, where the subject is a person or animal.

Common Mistakes

My leg is sleeping.
My leg is asleep.
for the numb-limb meaning, English uses 'asleep', not the verb 'sleep'.
Idioms

asleep at the wheel

idiom

failing to notice or act on a problem you are responsible for watching, especially at a critical moment.

The auditors were asleep at the wheel while the company quietly lost millions of dollars.

Critics said the city council was asleep at the wheel during the flood last summer.

asleep on the job

idiom

failing to do the work you are paid for because you are not paying attention or making any effort.

The security guard was clearly asleep on the job when the thieves walked in through the front door.

The factory manager fired two night-shift workers for being asleep on the job after a small fire broke out near the packing line.

asleep on the job | asleep at the wheel

idiom

Not giving enough attention to your work or responsibilities.

The guard was asleep on the job when the thief entered.

If the manager is asleep at the wheel, mistakes will happen.

asleep — adverb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe a person or animal in sleep, but they differ in position, depth, and tone. 'Asleep' is the everyday choice and goes only after a verb: 'the baby is asleep'. 'Sleeping' is its near-twin but works before a noun where 'asleep' cannot — 'a sleeping baby', 'sleeping passengers'. 'Dozing' suggests light sleep, often during the day or in a chair: 'Grandpa was dozing on the sofa after lunch'. 'Slumbering' is literary or poetic and pictures a deep, peaceful sleep — common in stories and songs but unusual in conversation: 'the slumbering village awoke at dawn'. Quick rule: pick 'asleep' after 'be/fall/stay', 'sleeping' before a noun, 'dozing' for light daytime sleep, and 'slumbering' only when you want a poetic feel.

asleep ↗sleeping ↗dozingslumbering

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

  • in (a chair/bed)
  • on (the sofa/floor)
  • at (the wheel)
  • during (the meeting)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Built in Middle English from the prefix 'a-' (meaning 'in' or 'into a state of') plus 'sleep', so the original idea was literally 'in sleep' or 'into sleep'. The same 'a-' shows up in 'awake', 'aboard', 'alive', and 'afoot'. Because of this prefix, words formed this way usually behave as predicates — they sit after 'be' or a movement verb rather than before a noun, which is why we say 'the child is asleep' but not 'the asleep child'.