sleep 1 of 2

noun

ˈslēp How to pronounce sleep (audio)
Definition of sleepnext
1
as in bed
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself neither of them has been getting much sleep since the baby was born

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in death
the state of being dead a grieving widower longing to join his beloved wife in her eternal sleep

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fate
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities regretfully put their terminally ill dog to sleep

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sleep

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rest
to be in a state of sleep the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip found the night watchman sleeping at his post

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to breed
to engage in sexual intercourse if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sleep
Noun
None of this means mental illness can be solved by telling a struggling young person to put down their phone, join a club or get more sleep. — Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Final Thoughts The Fitbit Edge nails the dedicated fitness tracker formula, with dependable workout tracking, comprehensive vital monitoring, and standout sleep analysis. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
The recommended sleep setup includes a mattress topper, two pillow firmness options, a spare blanket at the foot of the bed, blackout curtains or sleep masks and a white noise machine or earplugs. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 In the city that never sleeps, Halloween, which falls on a Saturday this year, is the official start for all the holiday fun to come. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleep
  1. bed
  2. death
  3. fate
  4. rest
  5. breed
  6. slumber
  7. dead
  8. demise
Noun
  • Rooms There are 40 tents across 7 different accommodation types at Under Canvas Moab, all with (true to its name) canvas walls, comfy beds, and views of the surrounding landscape.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, the university bought the 260-bed West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley from HCA Healthcare.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bed
Noun
  • The Kern County Coroner’s office will determine his cause of death, Hardy said.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Following her death, Trail dismembered Loofe’s body to avoid getting caught.
    — Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of death
Noun
  • Finn Gomez / Getty Voters in more than three dozen states will determine the fate of nearly 150 ballot measures on Election Day that will shape local policy on a wide range of issues.
    — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026
  • There’s this connection between Americans’ lack of control right now and leaving their fates in the hands of others.
    — Maria Bamford, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of fate
Verb
  • That one creative decision takes away Carrie’s agency at the most crucial moment and seriously undercuts the foundation on which the whole character arc rests.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Another photograph included in the court filing shows the object resting on aluminum foil beside what appears to be taco meat.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rest
Verb
  • Farms spend decades breeding mink to develop unique genetic lineages.
    — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Mosquitoes breed in small pools of water, including in tires and plastic containers.
    — Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • Mattresses and linens are unsurprisingly comfortable—the Langham’s bedding has, after all, become synonymous with inducing deep slumbers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • There is still time for the Republican Party to awaken from its slumber and stand up in the history of our nation for freedom-loving peoples across Europe.
    — Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of slumber
Noun
  • According to Wayúu custom, only women are allowed to touch their dead.
    — Nathan Jaccard, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In the spring just before or just as new growth emerges, remove the mulch and cut the remaining dead stems down to ground level or a few inches above the soil line.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of dead
Noun
  • One factor that could also affect air travel is the demise of Spirit Airlines, which went out of business in early May.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • An ancient family The mass extinction that caused the dinosaurs’ demise may have created an environment for the king-size fungus to evolve and thrive, according to the study.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of demise

Phrases Containing sleep

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sleeks
sleep
sleeper
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Cite this Entry

“Sleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleep. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sleep

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sleep

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