sleeping 1 of 3

sleeping

2 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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

sleeping

3 of 3

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sleeping
Adjective
For older couples, living arrangements, such as sharing a home, were less predictive of psychological well-being than sharing a sleeping space. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025 Questions directed to the sheriff’s office and the county regarding who authorized the sleeping quarters, policy and compliance remained unanswered as of press time. Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025 In making the rule, the CPSC said there were 17 deaths in 2020 and at least 17 deaths in 2021 because of the contribution to unsafe sleeping conditions of infant loungers. MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 Have working smoke detector on every floor and every sleeping area. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Avoiding this kind of off-schedule sleeping is best for keeping your circadian rhythm humming along smoothly. Erica Sloan, SELF, 27 Oct. 2025 Qatar Airways' Al Mourjan Business Lounge blends modern aesthetics with traditional Qatari elements, and offers terrific dining options, private sleeping pods, luxury showers, and quiet zones. Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025 Earlier this week, pink-and-green sleeping sets with artwork of intersecting scissors started showing up on a small handful of online retailers. Samantha Allen, Them., 24 Oct. 2025 But the upcoming morning launch window will require you to forego sleeping in this weekend. Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bush Hager's most noticeable symptoms include mood swings and trouble sleeping. Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 Upon awakening to a loud fire alarm, EKG results showed an average heart rate of 180 beats per minute, as compared with an average of less than 70 while sleeping. Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025 But a new study by researchers in Taiwan suggests that sleeping apart from your significant other may decrease psychological well-being. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025 So is the chance that somebody sleeping outside is hit by a car. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025 While some migrants remain in Tapachula, gone are the thousands of migrants, including entire families, sleeping on sidewalks, gathered in parks, packed in cheap hotel rooms, or lined up outside banks awaiting money transfers from relatives abroad. Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025 But these pumps aren’t compatible with every brand of sleeping pad on the market. Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025 In your bedroom, avoid using bright alarm clocks and sleeping near windows, if possible. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025 Habitually sleeping more than nine or ten hours has been linked to higher risks of obesity, metabolic problems and even mortality, though such findings may reflect underlying health issues rather than sleep itself. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleeping
Adjective
  • Persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can be a sign of insomnia or another sleep disorder.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The adorable pup lies flat on their stomach, fast asleep, as their owner gently drags them through the airport queue—clearly not quite ready for a full day on duty.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Florida’s final moments against Georgia were fitting for a fireside horror story — that which fans will tell years from now, recounting to their grandchildren the dark ages of this resting college football power.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
  • They were dealt around the table, open beers resting without coasters, with the Blue Jays down two games in the ALCS.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Tulips are botanically perennials, but after centuries of breeding for color, shape, and size, many varieties return poorly in the following years.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
  • According to the Humane Society, as reported by the outlet, the elderly owners may have become overwhelmed when the cats continued breeding inside the small studio.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Another viral video that racked up millions of views in September, meanwhile, revealed how a puppy had taken to napping in the tightest of spots.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Melissa, who was napping upstairs, woke up after hearing Stacy's screams and saw Ward on top of her sister.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Adults emerge from the pupae and begin feeding, mating and laying eggs.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Fall is mating season for elk in places like Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone, and approaching too closely can put both humans and animals at risk.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There’s no dozing off in his sessions.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To help your plants establish, make sure to get potted raspberries in the ground at least 4 to 6 weeks before frost is expected, or choose bare root canes, which are dormant and can be planted even later in the season, as long as the ground isn't frozen.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Someone’s words could catch you off guard, or perhaps awaken a part of you that’s been dormant.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sleeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleeping. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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