1
: one that sleeps
2
: a piece of timber, stone, or steel on or near the ground to support a superstructure, keep railroad rails in place, or receive floor joists : stringpiece
3
4
: someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value
the low-budget film became the summer's sleeper
5
: children's pajamas usually with feet
—usually used in plural
6
chiefly British
: a small earring or stud worn to keep the hole of a pierced ear from closing
Examples of sleeper in a Sentence
Sleepers were awakened by the sound of a loud crash.
He may turn out to be the sleeper in this year's election.
The movie was the summer's sleeper.
The movie became the sleeper hit of the summer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Poor sleepers also had a 68% chance of getting injured over a 12-month period.
—
Korin Miller, SELF, 12 Nov. 2025
Mzoo Luxury Sleep Eye Mask This contoured memory foam eye mask blocks out every stray glow with zero pressure on your eyes and even fits side sleepers.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2025
For those seeking a mattress for back pain with cooling, this design provides targeted support for back, side, or combination sleepers, ensuring a more comfortable and restorative night’s sleep.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The lightweight, moisture-wicking design keeps hot sleepers comfortable all night, while the box stitching keeps the fill evenly distributed.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleeper
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Korin Miller, SELF, 12 Nov. 2025
Mzoo Luxury Sleep Eye Mask This contoured memory foam eye mask blocks out every stray glow with zero pressure on your eyes and even fits side sleepers.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2025
For those seeking a mattress for back pain with cooling, this design provides targeted support for back, side, or combination sleepers, ensuring a more comfortable and restorative night’s sleep.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The lightweight, moisture-wicking design keeps hot sleepers comfortable all night, while the box stitching keeps the fill evenly distributed.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleeper
Cite this Entry
“Sleeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeper. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sleeper
noun
sleep·er
ˈslē-pər 
1
: one that sleeps
2
: a horizontal beam to support something on or near ground level
3
4
: someone or something considered unlikely to succeed that suddenly becomes successful
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