sleeping
Americannoun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or having accommodations for sleeping.
a sleeping compartment.
-
used to sleep in or on.
a sleeping jacket.
-
used to induce or aid sleep or while asleep.
sleeping mask.
Other Word Forms
- unsleeping adjective
Etymology
Origin of sleeping
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at sleep, -ing 1, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The shimmering green river was so calm in stretches it appeared to be sleeping.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
I’m sleeping in if I can, which I can’t because I have a toddler, but let’s say I can sleep ’til 10.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
The Lullaby Trust, which exists to keep babies safe and supports bereaved families, has been working with the Department of Education to bring about stricter regulations on safe sleeping.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Upstairs in his bedroom, tropical sounds and steelpan music add to the feeling of sleeping in a seaside resort.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
“They’re sleeping now. After they had eaten all they could hold, they crawled down in the straw and went to sleep.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
