sleeping

sleeping — adjective

1. resting with the eyes closed and the mind not fully aware of what is around you;

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

resting with the eyes closed and the mind not fully aware of what is around you; also describing objects and places connected with the body's natural daily period of rest.

Example

Trang quietly opened the curtains in the sleeping baby's room.

Élise packed her sleeping bag for the weekend trip to the mountains.

compound noun: sleeping bag

Common collocations
  • sleeping baby
  • sleeping child
  • sleeping cat
  • sleeping passenger
  • sleeping bag
  • sleeping mask
  • sleeping car
  • sleeping pill
Synonyms
  • asleep

    more common after a linking verb (fell asleep, is asleep) but cannot go before a noun

  • dozing

    suggests light sleep, often while sitting

  • resting

    broader — can mean relaxing without actually sleeping

  • napping

    specifically a short sleep, usually during the day

Antonyms
  • awake

    the most direct opposite

  • alert

    implies full attention, not just being not asleep

Grammar Patterns

sleeping + noun

Usage Note

This adjective form goes before a noun (attributive position). Do not confuse it with the present participle used after 'be' (The baby is sleeping), which is a verb form, not an adjective.

Common Mistakes

She bought a sleep bag for the trip.
She bought a sleeping bag for the trip.
'Sleeping' is part of the fixed compound name for items designed for rest.
The asleep cat is on the sofa.
The sleeping cat is on the sofa.
'Asleep' cannot be placed before a noun; use 'sleeping' instead.

sleeping — noun

Word family

  • sleep
    verbA2
  • sleep
    nounA2
  • sleepy
    adjectiveA2
  • asleep
    adjectiveA2
  • sleeper
    nounB1
  • sleepless
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Asleep is the most common word for saying someone is not awake, but it cannot go before a noun (you say 'the child is asleep', not 'the asleep child'). Dozing describes light sleep, often while sitting up, and suggests the person is not fully asleep and could wake easily. Resting is broader: you can rest by lying down without falling asleep, while sleeping specifically involves loss of full awareness. Napping refers to a short period of sleep, usually during the day, and emphasizes the brief duration rather than the state itself. For example: 'Look at the sleeping cat — is it asleep or just dozing on the windowsill?' 'She is napping on the sofa, so please keep the noise down.'

asleepdozingrestingnapping

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sleeping pattern
  • sleeping disorder
  • sleeping position
  • sleeping hours

Adverbs

  • deeply
  • peacefully
  • soundly
  • heavily

Phrases

  • trouble sleeping
  • difficulty sleeping
  • have trouble sleeping

Prepositions

  • during
  • in
  • through

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old English slǣpan (to sleep) combined with the present-participle suffix -ing, which formed adjectives and gerunds. The compound nouns such as sleeping bag and sleeping car first appeared in the 19th century as new items and vehicles designed for rest during travel.