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

For instance, lowering the thermostat while away from home or while sleeping can reduce energy use, while sealing air leaks around windows and doors and maintaining heating equipment can also help lower consumption. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

There are plenty of camper vans with convertible sleeping areas, but few offer a starker difference between day and night. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026

Goldener Hirsch has a residence rental program that is extremely family-friendly with flexible sleeping arrangements, welcome kits for the kiddos, and babysitting services. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Those roots go back to 1952, when Moncler began in the French Alps as a maker of tents and sleeping bags. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026

There's an interesting layout in this one that prioritizes sleeping capacity over having a particularly generous living space. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026

The contoured curves and precision support zones adapt to back, side or stomach sleeping positions. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Some of the builders were delighted by the strange setup — the sleeping alcoves for him and Lakofski, the balustrade inspired by the chain link of a nearby playground (and, maybe, a little Frank Gehry). — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026

New research presented at an international cancer conference this week suggests that unhealthy sleeping patterns may contribute to the development and progression of breast cancer. — David Cox, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

Trouble sleeping, for example, is common in Parkinson’s, and exercise can improve sleep. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Yes, there are buses and road access, but only those sleeping on its shores can experience its beauty from day to night. — Callie Thorpe, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

The blind man nudged the ferrule of his cane into the bulk of the sleeping figure, sidestepped him deftly, and moved on to the end of the block, a stoplight, heavy traffic, cyclists, big scary trucks. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026

Sierra then turned to Daniela, who was sleeping face down on her bed. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

There are built-ins underneath the stairs, which lead to a sleeping loft with a skylight. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Oct. 2026

Caleb was reportedly sleeping beside his mother when he was hit in the head by a bullet. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

At night, the bed measures in a few square inches shy of a queen at 58 x 76-in (147 x 193-cm), comfortably sleeping two people or a solo adventurer hellbent on escaping everything and everyone. — New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026

But the sight of a man sleeping atop the shelter next to a shopping cart caught the attention of onlookers, some of whom pulled out their phones to take pictures, as first reported by KTLA. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026