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

This can happen because of snoring that keeps others awake at night, or because of being sleepy from not getting enough oxygen to the brain, leading to poor quality sleep. —Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2026

Nothing about this new single is sleepy. —Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 26 Feb. 2026

But my interpreter and guide, Alex Kotchev, a Bulgarian who has spent more than two decades living and eating attentively in Sapporo, steered me instead to Menya Saimi, in a sleepy residential neighborhood a half hour's subway ride from the city center. —Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Rogan began the show in his customary posture of sleepy truculence. —Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for sleepy

• creepy
• praecipe
• 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