asleep

1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈslēp 

1

: being in a state of sleep

2

: dead

3

: lacking sensation : numb

4

a

: inactive, dormant

b

: not alert : indifferent

asleep

2 of 2

adverb

1

: into a state of sleep

2

: into the sleep of death

3

: into a state of inactivity, sluggishness, or indifference

Synonyms

Adjective

• dormant
• dozing
• napping
• resting
• sleeping
• slumbering

Examples of asleep in a Sentence

Adjective

“Are you asleep?” “No, I'm awake.”

He tries to clean up the house while the kids are asleep.

The cats are asleep on the floor.

She was still asleep at noon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Their son, wearing big blue headphones and asleep in her arms, didn’t seem fazed. —NBC News, 28 July 2024

Water rescues in Savannah While residents were asleep Friday night and Saturday morning, their subdivisions in Savannah, Georgia's Richmond Hill neighborhood began to collect feet of floodwaters in a matter of hours. —Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024

Adverb

Sleep problems: Both depression and migraine cause insomnia—difficulty falling or staying asleep—and changes in sleep patterns. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2024

Maintaining good sleep habits is also essential to falling and staying asleep easily. —Cathy Nelson, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English aslepe, from Old English on slæpe

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing asleep

• fall asleep
• half asleep

Kids Definition

asleep

1 of 2 adjective

ə-ˈslēp 

1

: being in a state of sleep

2

: lacking sensation : numb

my foot was asleep

asleep

2 of 2 adverb

: into a state of sleep

Medical Definition

asleep

1 of 2 adjective

ə-ˈslēp 

1

: being in a state of sleep

2

: lacking sensation : numb

asleep

2 of 2 adverb

: into a state of sleep