oversleep

verb

over·​sleep ˌō-vər-ˈslēp 

overslept ˌō-vər-ˈslept  ; oversleeping

intransitive verb

: to sleep beyond the time for waking

transitive verb

: to allow (oneself) to oversleep

Examples of oversleep in a Sentence

Be sure to set your alarm clock so that you don't oversleep.

Recent Examples on the Web

Research has also shown that SAD can severely affect sleep, including a tendency to oversleep or sleep fewer hours a night, and this could affect one’s quality of life. —Sophie Okolo, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

Ellen matured into one of the institute’s most awful therapists, at one point urging a teen-ager who had overslept her alarm to kill herself. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 14 June 2023

One team member had overslept and would play from home. —Hisako Ueno, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2023

Quick had a bad habit of oversleeping and being late for minor league bus trips. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023

Never oversleep your flight! —The Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2020

Don't oversleep — the restaurants close at 2 p.m. Ultreia Address: 1701 Wynkoop St. #125, Denver, CO 80202 Phone: [phone] Website This Spanish restaurant comes from a team with a track record of opening award-winning restaurants in Denver. —Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2023

The schedule was so grueling that Fati often had headaches and could hardly keep her eyes open, and began to oversleep and miss days at her office job. —Juliet MacUr, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022

After oversleeping and missing his bus to school, a Michigan teen was almost killed by a trigger-happy homeowner while trying to ask for directions. —Paula Rogo, Essence.com, 14 Apr. 2018

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

oversleep

verb

over·​sleep ˌō-vər-ˈslēp 

overslept -ˈslept  ; oversleeping

: to sleep beyond the usual time or beyond the time set for getting up