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

Talbots is on the move again after years of being among the sleepier brands in retail. — David Moin, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Up there, in the sleepy West Michigan resort town, the team had only each other, lending to near-automatic team building. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

When South Beach was still a sleepy town, before the ‘90s boom, Epicure was the one place welcoming the cosmopolitan. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Tucked into a sleepy section of southern Sacramento County, a vineyard and winery with a private water feature offers a unique wine tasting experience. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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