sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē 

sleepier; sleepiest

1

a

: ready to fall asleep

b

: of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep

2

: sluggish as if from sleep : lethargic

also : having little activity

a sleepy coastal village

3

: sleep-inducing

sleepily

ˈslē-pə-lē 

adverb

sleepiness

ˈslē-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of sleepy

• sleeping
• resting
• drowsy

Examples of sleepy in a Sentence

She felt sleepy and went to bed.

the sleepy children were carried up to bed

Recent Examples on the Web

For now, the stock market is still at all-time highs, with the S & P 500 having touched one record this week and three last week, despite a sleepy stretch of summer. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026

In a sleepy bay in Anguilla, the ship’s marina comes down, affording an opportunity to play with the water toys and swim to an inflatable trampoline. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026

Staff called police in the sleepy East Tennessee town of Dandridge regularly for months. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026

After photos from the encounter were released—showing the sleepy young prince in his bathrobe and slippers, casually greeting the world leader—the moment took the Internet by storm. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for sleepy

• creepy
• principe

Kids Definition

sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē 

sleepier; sleepiest

1

: ready to fall asleep

2

: quietly inactive

a sleepy village

sleepily

-pə-lē 

adverb

sleepiness

-pē-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē 

sleepier; sleepiest

: ready to fall asleep

sleepiness

-pē-nəs 

noun