sleep
sleep — verb
1. to go into a natural state of rest at night, during which your eyes stay closed
to go into a natural state of rest at night, during which your eyes stay closed and you are not aware of what is happening around you.
Sahil usually sleeps for about eight hours every night.
sleep + for + duration
The baby finally slept through the whole night without crying.
sleep through the night
Joaquín was so tired that he slept on the sofa for two hours.
The cat sleeps on the windowsill every afternoon when the sun is warm.
During the camping trip, Esme slept in a small tent next to the river.
- sleep well
- sleep badly
- sleep deeply
- sleep peacefully
- sleep through the night
- sleep for hours
- wake up
to stop sleeping; the opposite action
- stay awake
to choose not to sleep
Grammar Patterns
sleep
sleep + adverb of place/time
Usage Note
This is the basic, most common meaning. It is primarily intransitive — you do not 'sleep something'. The exception is the fixed pattern 'sleep a ... sleep' (e.g. 'sleep a good sleep').
Common Mistakes
2. when a room, vehicle, or tent contains beds for a given number of people, the ve
when a room, vehicle, or tent contains beds for a given number of people, the verb 'sleep' is used to describe its capacity — for instance, a cabin that sleeps four people has beds for four.
The cabin sleeps six people, with two bunk beds and a sofa bed.
building/room sleeps + number
Their large family tent sleeps four adults comfortably.
The tent sleeps four, so there was plenty of room for Isabela and her three cousins.
accommodation sleeps + number
The hotel room sleeps three, with a double bed and a rollaway cot.
Their new motorhome sleeps six and has a small kitchen and bathroom.
- sleeps four
- sleeps six
- sleeps up to
- accommodate
broader meaning; includes sleeping, sitting, or housing in general
- hold
less formal; used for rooms, vehicles, and containers
Grammar Patterns
sleep + number of people
Usage Note
Only used with a number or quantity. You cannot say 'This tent sleeps people' — you must say how many. The subject is always a place or vehicle, never a person.
Common Mistakes
3. to experience a particular quality or type of sleep, especially in terms of how
to experience a particular quality or type of sleep, especially in terms of how well or how long you rest.
Adina slept badly last night because of the noise from the street.
sleep + badly
After a long walk in the mountains, Liang slept deeply for ten hours.
sleep + deeply
The new mattress helped Christopher sleep much more soundly than before.
sleep + soundly
After the medicine, the patient slept peacefully for the first time in days.
Daniel slept poorly on the plane because the seat would not recline.
- sleep well
- sleep badly
- sleep deeply
- sleep soundly
- sleep peacefully
- sleep poorly
Grammar Patterns
sleep + adverb (well, badly, deeply, soundly)
Usage Note
Unlike the core sense (verb/1), this sense must be followed by an adverb describing the quality of sleep. On its own, 'I slept' does not belong to this sense — it belongs to sense 1.
4. to postpone making a final choice until after a night of rest, allowing extra ti
to postpone making a final choice until after a night of rest, allowing extra time for careful thought.
I am not sure whether to accept the job offer, so I will sleep on it.
sleep on it (idiomatic)
Yasmin told her partner she needed to sleep on the proposal before giving an answer.
Instead of making a quick choice, Michael decided to sleep on the matter until morning.
sleep on + noun phrase
Before signing the contract, Sahil decided to sleep on the terms one more night.
The committee agreed to sleep on the proposal and meet again in the morning.
- sleep on it
- sleep on the idea
- sleep on the offer
- sleep on the decision
- think it over
more general; does not imply waiting until the next day
- take time to decide
more formal; can mean any length of time
- decide immediately
to make a choice without any delay
Grammar Patterns
sleep on it
sleep on + noun phrase
Usage Note
Always used with 'on' as a phrasal verb. The decision is typically an important one — job offers, purchases, relationship choices. This is a fixed idiomatic expression.
Common Mistakes
5. to fail to notice or appreciate the true value or importance of someone or somet
to fail to notice or appreciate the true value or importance of someone or something, often missing a good opportunity as a result.
Do not sleep on that band — their new album is truly amazing.
negative imperative: don't sleep on
Lakan slept on the warning signs until it was too late to fix the problem.
Critics slept on the film when it first came out, but now people love it.
Investors slept on the small tech company, not realizing how fast it would grow.
I slept on the local jazz club for years, but once I finally went, I regretted not going sooner.
- don't sleep on
- sleep on someone
- sleep on something
- overlook
more formal; to fail to notice
- underestimate
to judge something as less valuable than it truly is
- recognize
to acknowledge the value or importance of something
Grammar Patterns
sleep on + noun phrase (in negative imperative)
Usage Note
Common in informal and slang contexts, especially in recommendations ('don't sleep on X'). This sense is different from verb/4 ('sleep on it' = delay a decision) — here 'sleep on' means 'ignore or overlook'.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'Don't sleep on it — make a choice now.' — Confusing this sense with verb/4 (DELAY DECISION). This sense criticizes ignoring value, not postponing a decision.
6. to spend the night outdoors or in a public place because you lack a permanent ho
to spend the night outdoors or in a public place because you lack a permanent home.
After losing his job and his flat, Ziad had to sleep rough for several weeks.
sleep rough (BrE)
The charity provides hot meals for people who are sleeping rough in the city centre.
More young people are sleeping rough this winter because of the high cost of housing.
The shelter offers a warm bed to anyone who would otherwise sleep rough.
A charity runs a winter programme to help people who sleep rough in the cold.
- sleep rough
- sleeping rough
- people sleeping rough
- sleep on the streets
more literal and used in both British and American English
- have a home
to have regular shelter and a bed to sleep in
- stay indoors
to sleep inside a building
Grammar Patterns
sleep rough
sleep on the streets
Usage Note
Primarily British English. The equivalent American expression is 'sleep on the streets' or 'sleep outside'. The adjective 'rough' follows the verb directly and cannot be moved.
7. a warm, informal expression said to a person who is heading to bed, wishing them
a warm, informal expression said to a person who is heading to bed, wishing them a comfortable and restful night.
Liang kissed his daughter on the forehead and said, 'Sleep tight, little one.'
imperative: sleep tight
Before closing the bedroom door, Daniel whispered, 'Sleep well, everyone.'
The camp leaders told the children to sleep tight and gave each one a warm blanket.
Tucking in her niece, Adina smiled and whispered, 'Sleep tight, sweetheart.'
The nurse told each patient to sleep tight before turning off the lights.
- sleep tight
- sleep well
- sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite
- sleep well
more neutral; expresses the same wish without the informal rhyme association
- sweet dreams
focuses on dreaming rather than the quality of sleep itself
Grammar Patterns
Sleep tight!
Sleep well!
Usage Note
Almost always used as an imperative or a wish, not in past tense. 'Sleep tight' is often paired with 'don't let the bedbugs bite' as a playful, traditional rhyme. 'Sleep well' is a more neutral alternative.
sleep in
phrasal verbto sleep later than usual in the morning, especially by staying in bed longer than normal.
On Saturdays, Christopher likes to sleep in until ten o'clock.
The children slept in on New Year's Day after staying up late the night before.
sleep over
phrasal verbto spend the night at someone else's house, usually as a social visit or for a party.
Adina asked her parents if she could sleep over at Yasmin's house on Friday.
We are planning a movie night — do you want to sleep over?
sleep through
phrasal verbto continue sleeping without being woken by a noise, event, or activity.
The storm was very loud, but the baby slept through it without making a sound.
Lakan slept through his alarm and arrived at work an hour late.
sleep off
phrasal verbto get rid of an unpleasant feeling, especially tiredness, illness, or the effects of alcohol, by sleeping.
Joaquín had a bad headache, so he took a nap to sleep it off.
After a long flight, Liang needed a full night to sleep off the jet lag.
sleep together / sleep with
phrasal verbto have sex with someone.
The two characters in the novel sleep together early in the story.
Ziad was shocked to learn that his roommate had slept with his ex-girlfriend.
sleep around
phrasal verbto have sex with many different people in a casual way.
In the film, the main character is known for sleeping around and not having serious relationships.
Some people judge others for sleeping around, but it is a personal choice.
sleep on
phrasal verbTo delay making a decision until the next day after thinking about it overnight.
I'm not sure about the offer; let me sleep on it.
She decided to sleep on the proposal before answering.
sleep together
phrasal verbTo have sex with someone.
They started sleeping together after their third date.
The movie hinted that the couple slept together.
sleep with
phrasal verbTo have sex with someone.
She admitted she slept with her coworker.
He never told anyone he slept with his best friend's sister.
sleep like a log
idiomto sleep very deeply and heavily, without waking up easily.
After working in the garden all day, Sahil slept like a log and did not hear the thunderstorm.
Esme said she had slept like a log on the new mattress and felt wonderful in the morning.
to not let a problem or worry disturb your rest; to not be overly concerned about something.
It is just a small mistake in the report — do not lose sleep over it.
Marco was angry about the criticism, but he did not lose sleep over it.
put to sleep
idiomto give an animal a drug or injection that causes its death without pain, usually because it is very ill or suffering.
The vet had to put their old dog to sleep because it was in too much pain.
After the cat was diagnosed with a serious illness, the family made the difficult choice to put her to sleep.
To stop worrying and feel calm because a problem is solved or a danger is gone.
After the test, Mia could finally breathe easy.
You can sleep easy now that the report is finished.
To avoid talking about a past problem or argument so that it does not cause trouble now.
I wanted to ask about the fight, but I let sleeping dogs lie.
Why bring up old mistakes? Let sleeping dogs lie.
live/sleep rough
idiomTo sleep outside without a home, usually because you have no money or shelter.
After losing his job, Diego had to sleep rough for a week.
Many people live rough in the city parks during winter.
To be unable to sleep at all during the night.
The baby cried all night, so I didn't get a wink of sleep.
Worried about the exam, Sara didn't sleep a wink.
To stop worrying and feel calm because a problem is solved or a danger is gone.
Now that the storm passed, we can all sleep easy.
Knowing the kids are safe, parents can rest easy.
To sleep very deeply and without waking up.
After hiking all day, Tom slept like a log.
The baby slept like a log through the loud music.
sleep tight
idiomA friendly way to tell someone, especially a child, to sleep well.
Goodnight, Lily. Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.
Mom kissed me and said, "Sleep tight, sweetie."
sleep — noun
1. the natural condition of the body and mind when you are not awake, your eyes are
the natural condition of the body and mind when you are not awake, your eyes are closed, and you are unaware of what is happening around you.
Doctors say that adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night.
uncountable: need + sleep
The loud music from the party next door interrupted my sleep at midnight.
Michael has been having trouble with sleep ever since he started working night shifts.
have trouble with sleep
Researchers say that a lack of sleep can affect your memory and concentration.
Joaquín felt refreshed after eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
- get sleep
- need sleep
- lack of sleep
- deep sleep
- dreamless sleep
- wakefulness
the state of being awake and alert
- insomnia
the medical condition of being unable to sleep
Grammar Patterns
sleep
get some sleep
need sleep
Usage Note
This is the uncountable noun form — you cannot say 'a sleep' when referring to the general state. 'A sleep' (countable) is used for a specific period (see noun sense 4).
Common Mistakes
2. the moment or process of beginning to sleep; used in fixed expressions that desc
the moment or process of beginning to sleep; used in fixed expressions that describe the transition from being awake to being asleep.
Daniel told his daughter a short story to help her go to sleep.
go to sleep
The gentle rocking of the train sent the tired passengers to sleep.
send + someone + to sleep
Esme listened to soft music as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
drift off to sleep
The sound of rain on the roof helped Christopher quickly go to sleep.
Ziad read a chapter of his book before finally drifting off to sleep.
- go to sleep
- drift off to sleep
- send to sleep
- wake up
the moment of becoming conscious again
Grammar Patterns
go to sleep
drift off to sleep
send someone to sleep
Usage Note
This sense only appears in fixed phrases. 'Go to sleep' is the most common. 'Drift off to sleep' suggests a slow, natural transition. This sense is distinct from noun/3 (GET TO SLEEP), which emphasizes successfully achieving sleep despite difficulty.
Common Mistakes
3. to succeed in falling asleep, especially when you are trying but finding it diff
to succeed in falling asleep, especially when you are trying but finding it difficult.
Christopher was too excited to get to sleep on the night before his holiday.
get to sleep (succeeding)
Adina drank warm milk to help herself get to sleep after a stressful day.
The baby would not get to sleep until her mother sang a lullaby.
The noisy traffic outside made it very hard for Sahil to get to sleep.
Yasmin counted sheep in an effort to get to sleep on the night before her exam.
- get to sleep
- cannot get to sleep
- try to get to sleep
- finally get to sleep
- fall asleep
the most general expression for the transition
- doze off
informal; suggests a lighter, unintended sleep
- stay awake
to avoid falling asleep on purpose
- lie awake
to be in bed without being able to sleep
Grammar Patterns
get to sleep
cannot get to sleep
Usage Note
'Get to sleep' emphasizes success — especially after initial difficulty. Compare 'go to sleep' (noun/2), which describes starting the process without implying trouble. In negative form, 'cannot get to sleep' is a common way to describe insomnia.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'I finally went to sleep after two hours.' — This can be ambiguous. If you mean you succeeded despite difficulty, prefer 'I finally got to sleep after struggling for two hours.'
4. a single stretch during which you sleep, often described by how long or how well
a single stretch during which you sleep, often described by how long or how well you rested.
After the long flight, Sahil had a short sleep on the sofa before dinner.
a + adjective + sleep
Yasmin felt much better after a good sleep and a hot shower.
The old cat enjoyed a long, peaceful sleep in the warm afternoon sun.
Marco took a quick sleep during his lunch break to regain his energy.
The hikers enjoyed a peaceful sleep under the stars at the campsite.
- good sleep
- long sleep
- short sleep
- deep sleep
- uninterrupted sleep
Grammar Patterns
a + adjective + sleep
a + number-hour + sleep
Usage Note
This is the countable form. You can say 'a sleep', 'a good sleep', 'a short sleep', etc. A common pattern is 'a + adjective + sleep' where the adjective describes the duration or quality. Not used with numbers directly — say 'eight hours of sleep' (uncountable, noun/1) rather than 'an eight-hour sleep' (possible but less common).
Common Mistakes
5. one night counted as a simple unit for measuring how many days remain before a p
one night counted as a simple unit for measuring how many days remain before a planned event, often used when talking to children.
Christmas is only three sleeps away, and the children can hardly wait.
number + sleep(s) away
Liang told his son that their trip to the beach was just one sleep away.
Our holiday begins in two more sleeps — I have already packed my bags.
Only five more sleeps until Grandma arrives for the holiday celebration.
Daniel told his little brother that there were just two sleeps left until the fair.
- one sleep away
- three sleeps away
- sleeps until
- sleeps to go
Grammar Patterns
a sleep (referring to a night away)
two sleeps away
Usage Note
This is an informal, child-friendly way to talk about time. A 'sleep' here means 'a night that passes before something happens'. Most common with young children: 'only five more sleeps until your birthday.'
6. the small crusty or sticky bits that form at the inner edge of your eye while yo
the small crusty or sticky bits that form at the inner edge of your eye while you are sleeping.
Lakan wiped the sleep from his eyes before going to the bathroom to wash his face.
sleep (from someone's eyes)
The toddler woke up with sleep in the corners of his eyes and rubbed them with his fists.
Nadia gently cleaned the sleep from the baby's eyes with a soft, damp cloth.
After his nap, the little boy had sleep in both eyes and needed help cleaning up.
Liang splashed cold water on his face to wash the sleep from his eyes.
- sleep in one's eyes
- sleep from one's eyes
- wipe the sleep away
- rheum
the formal medical term; not used in everyday conversation
Grammar Patterns
sleep (in/from one's eyes)
Usage Note
This is an informal, uncountable noun meaning the dried fluid around the eyes. It is never used with an article ('a sleep' in this sense is wrong). The more formal medical term is 'rheum'.
to be so familiar with a task that you can do it without any effort or conscious thought.
After twenty years of teaching, Mrs. Okonkwo could handle a noisy classroom in her sleep.
Michael has played that song so many times that he can perform it in his sleep.
to cause someone to become unconscious for a medical procedure, using anaesthetic.
The dentist put Daniel to sleep before removing his wisdom teeth.
The vet put the injured cat to sleep before operating on its broken leg.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Sleep is the broadest, most neutral term for the natural nightly state of unconscious rest. A nap is a short sleep taken during the day, often for 10–30 minutes, and is usually planned. A doze is a very light, often unintentional sleep — you might doze off while watching TV or reading, and you wake up easily. Snooze is similar to doze but even more informal; it can also refer to hitting the 'snooze' button on an alarm. Slumber is a literary or formal word for deep, peaceful sleep — you are more likely to read 'slumber' in a story than to hear it in conversation. Rest is the broadest of all: it includes sleep but also any period of relaxation or inactivity without necessarily falling asleep. For example, 'I need some rest' could mean you want to lie down, while 'I need some sleep' means you actually want to lose consciousness. When choosing which word to use, consider the length and depth of the sleep: long and deep → sleep or slumber; short and light → doze or snooze; planned short sleep → nap; general relaxation → rest.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'sleep' comes from Old English 'slǣpan' (verb) and 'slǣp' (noun), which belong to the Germanic family of languages. It is related to Old Saxon 'slāpan', Old High German 'slāfan', and Dutch 'slapen'. These forms trace back to a Proto-Germanic root '*slēpaną', meaning 'to sleep'. The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across more than 1,500 years of English history — although the spelling shifted from 'slæpan' to 'sleep' during the Middle English period. The basic concept of sleep as a natural, daily state of rest has not changed, though modern science has added depth to our understanding of its stages and functions.