sleepwalk

verb

sleep·​walk ˈslēp-ˌwȯk 

sleepwalked; sleepwalking; sleepwalks

intransitive verb

1

: to walk while or as if while asleep

2

: to proceed in a passive often lethargic manner

sleepwalked through the workday

sleepwalk noun

sleepwalker

ˈslēp-ˌwȯ-kər 

noun

Examples of sleepwalk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Police said the boy had sleepwalked from his home in the Province of Briarcliff apartment complex in the 1100 block of Northwest Vivion Road early Thursday morning. — Nathan Pilling july 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Sleep talking that occurs alongside night terrors, sleepwalking or breathing disruptions also warrants clinical attention. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Injuries will happen, and the gap between the managers paying attention and the ones sleepwalking widens every single week. — John Laghezza, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Donnie, a teenager struggling with his mental health, who begins sleepwalking and experiencing visions that take a toll on his everyday life. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sleepwalk

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk

Kids Definition

sleepwalk

verb

sleep·​walk ˈslēp-ˌwȯk 

: to walk while or as if while asleep

sleepwalker

-ˌwȯ-kər 

noun