asleep

American  

[uh-sleep] / əˈslip /

adverb

1. in or into a state of sleep.

   He fell asleep quickly.

2. into a dormant or inactive state; to rest.

   Their anxieties were put asleep.

3. into the state of death.

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adjective

1. sleeping.

   He is asleep.

2. dormant; inactive.

3. (of the foot, hand, leg, etc.) numb.

4. dead.

asleep British  

/ əˈsliːp /

adjective

1. in or into a state of sleep

2. in or into a dormant or inactive state

3. (of limbs, esp when the blood supply to them has been restricted) numb; lacking sensation

4. euphemistic dead

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asleep Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing asleep

• fall asleep

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Other Word Forms

• half-asleep adjective
• quasi-asleep adjective

Etymology

Origin of asleep

before 1000; Middle English o slæpe, aslepe, Old English on slǣpe; a- ¹, sleep

Example Sentences

"This study addresses a major gap by focusing on the workers who start their day when most people are still asleep."

From Science Daily

One of them falls asleep to episodes hoping some of the details stick in his head.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many of them were asleep after celebrating till midnight at a birthday party.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I did see . . . something fast. If you two wouldn’t have fallen asleep so early, you would have seen it, too.”

From Literature

Then I switch off the light and I’m asleep within minutes.

From Literature

Related Words

• comatose
• dormant