sleepy

1 of 2

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

sleepiness

2 of 2

noun

sleep·​i·​ness ˈslēpēnə̇s 

-pin-

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being sleepy

2

: an abnormal condition in flowers (such as carnations or snapdragons) marked by a partial closing of the petals

Synonyms of sleepy

Adjective

• sleeping
• resting
• drowsy

Examples of sleepy in a Sentence

Adjective

She felt sleepy and went to bed.

the sleepy children were carried up to bed

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Illustration by Patricia Bolaños In sleepy South Slope, a local son in search of a beer bar walked past a familiar, long-shuttered laundromat. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Carlotta and Dedo have to do everything in their power to prove her innocence and avoid losing her again, with their investigation taking them to the heart of their sleepy suburban town, Sundersheim. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

All the action in the Pacific is in contrast to the sleepy Atlantic basin, which has yet to see a single hurricane so far this year. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2026

The Navatek Method Before Kao’s doomed reign as CEO, Navatek was a sleepy Hawaiian engineering company with a few dozen employees. — William Turton, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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