Synonyms of sleeping

sleeping 1 of 3

adjective

as in asleep

being in a state of suspended consciousness

a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center

Synonyms & Similar Words

• asleep
• resting
• napping
• dormant
• at rest
• dozing
• slumbering
• dreaming
• nodding
• drowsy
• sleepy
• somnolent
• comatose
• slumberous
• sleepwalking
• hypnotized
• semiconscious
• reposing
• somnambulant
• mesmerized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• awake
• sleepless
• wakeful
• aware
• wide-awake
• conscious
• sleepless
• up
• aroused
• awakened
• revived
• wakened
• roused
• astir
• reawakened

sleeping

2 of 3

noun

as in resting

Related Words

• resting
• slumbering
• dozing
• lethargy
• torpidity
• oversleeping
• torpor
• tiredness
• sleepiness
• sluggishness
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• lassitude
• somnolence
• weariness
• doziness

Dissimilar Words

• insomnia
• consciousness
• wakefulness
• awareness
• sleeplessness

sleeping

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sleep

1

as in napping

to be in a state of sleep

the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip

found the night watchman sleeping at his post

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resting
• napping
• dozing
• dreaming
• snoozing
• slumbering
• catnapping
• dropping off
• sleeping in
• hibernating
• nodding off
• drowsing (off)
• oversleeping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• waking
• rising
• arising
• arousing
• awaking

2

as in breeding

to engage in sexual intercourse

if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breeding
• mating
• doing it
• having sex
• copulating
• fornicating
• fooling around

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sleeping

Adjective

An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026

Noun

At night, that lounge converts over into one of two double beds, the other dropping into sleeping form from the wraparound dining area up front. — New Atlas, 23 July 2026

The city already refers those found sleeping or camping outside to area services, such as emergency housing, case management and food assistance. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Burnham also led efforts to tackle rough sleeping in Manchester during his mayoral tenure. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 July 2026

Heavy blankets, sleeping bags, a ground cloth, an auto cushion, and a pillow are all necessary equipment. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 July 2026

Volunteers flattened and folded the bags, cut them into strips and tied them together to form plastic year, which was woven into durable sleeping mats using looms. — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Sleep systems Choosing the right sleeping foundation is essential. — Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026

The seat-block option comes four months after United unveiled a new Relax Row option, a row of three economy seats with individually adjustable leg rests that fold up at a 90-degree angle to create a lie-flat sleeping area. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 July 2026

In 2011, an anchored boat packed with sleeping tourists sank in Vietnam's scenic Ha Long Bay, killing 12 tourists from nine countries, including two Americans. — CBS News, 13 July 2026

Verb

Scientists describe these differences as chronotypes, our natural preference for sleeping and being alert at particular times of day. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Silva experienced homelessness, too, often sleeping under the cover of a gazebo at the Riverbank Community Center. — Trevor Morgan, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

Just hours before North Kansas City’s temporary camping ban for the World Cup was set to expire Tuesday evening, the City Council approved a permanent ordinance aimed at preventing people from sleeping on public property. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

In this context, the team discovered that whales resting closer to the surface of the water released more bubbles while sleeping. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 23 July 2026

Advertisement Many online have also expressed skepticism towards Takaichi’s claims of sleeping less than three hours a night, Li tells TIME. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 July 2026

Keegan was desperate to awaken the sleeping Tyneside beast and get Newcastle back to the top flight and immediately announced himself to his adoring new fanbase, scoring the winning goal on his debut against Queens Park Rangers at St James’. — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026

The current-gen Nissan Z is a phenomenal sports car that, for many reasons, most people are sleeping on. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 22 July 2026

The monks emulated Buddha’s journey — walking barefoot, eating one meal a day, and sleeping under the stars. — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026