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 the far end of the tiny house, opposite the entrance, is a proper bedroom, rather than the loft-style sleeping spaces found in many tiny houses. — New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026

So, pack lots of extra layers and your warmest sleeping system, especially since snow and ice are common sights during this time of year. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2026

But if the plan was to let sleeping dogs lie, Bartiromo interfered by passing along the internal guidance. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Chatting’s gastroenterologist ruled out alcohol consumption, noting in her medical records that Chatting had always been a light drinker, and instead cited an herbal sleeping aid as a likely factor. — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2026

While both the primary and secondary suites live on the main level, an ascending staircase leads you up to a dedicated workspace and additional sleeping accommodations courtesy of a sleeper sofa. — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026

The extra room doesn’t showcase a single feature, but is distributed across a larger sleeping area, additional storage and more open space around the seat. — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

More than 200 of its sailors were receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, a result of a laundry room fire that spread through the ventilation system into the carrier’s sleeping quarters. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

No matter your sleeping style, there’s an option below that fits your needs, with prices starting at just $220. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Of course there is a fire risk associated with sleeping rough, but most encampment fires start in dense neighborhoods like Skid Row. — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026

Best Gear Deals From sleeping comfortably under the stars to enjoying a hot cup of coffee at sunrise, the right gear can elevate any camping trip, and REI’s sale is packed with worthwhile upgrades. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026

Inside, in what is normally a sports hall, hundreds of people are sleeping overnight on trestle beds. — Emma Burrows, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

An attorney for Lewis’ family has said body-camera footage appears to show Anderson firing within a second of opening the bedroom door where Lewis was sleeping. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

After examining her, the doctor recommended that our daughter wear a steel brace when sleeping. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026

Earlier observational work has suggested painful hemorrhoids can disrupt rest, and some studies have found that people sleeping fewer than six hours nightly report more pain, bleeding and swelling. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026

Krinberg says that if a mattress is flippable, both sides will be designed for sleeping. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026

Nothing will keep you from sleeping or distract you from studying like itchy bug bites or the constant sneezing and drippy nose of seasonal allergies. — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026