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sleep

sleep

∞ 1.0
A natural rest when a person is not awake and the body gets energy
  • noun
  • /sliːp/
: sueño
  • After a full day of hiking, a good night's sleep is essential for recovery.
  • get some sleep
  • a night's sleep
  • hours of sleep

But yeah, go party, go get your sleep, go take a vacation.

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Examples

  • Get yourself some sleep, Mr Farnsworth.

  • After a bad night of sleep, do nothing.

  • Alcohol will impact your sleep in three specific ways.

  • So what about the effect of sleep on mood?

  • Has anyone ever told you that you cry out in your sleep?

  • How can I be comfortable and get some sleep in a horse barn?

  • All I need is a decent night's sleep.

  • I just didn't get much sleep last night.

  • There has been some investigation into college student sleep disturbances in international studies.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Some studies showed the adverse effects of insufficient sleep and sleepiness on school functioning.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

rest
vssleep
654 1.0

A period when you stop activity to relax or sleep

is specifically the natural unconscious state focused on bodily recuperation
nap
vssleep
360 1.0

A short sleep during the day

is the full natural nightly unconscious cycle that fully restores strength
sleeping
vssleep
276 1.0

A time when you are not awake

is the base noun for that same restorative unconscious state
slumber
vssleep
76 3.9

A period when something is asleep or inactive

is the standard natural unconscious process for body strength recovery
70 1.1

A night of sleep that makes you feel rested and ready for the day

is the natural daily unconscious state that enables such nightly restoration
deep sleep
vssleep
25 2.8

A heavy sleep when the body and mind rest and are not aware of surroundings

is the general natural unconscious state that includes all stages
beauty sleep
vssleep
17 3.4

A sleep thought to make you look more rested and healthy

is the natural unconscious process that actually restores bodily strength
shut-eye
vssleep
  • Informal
16 7.2

A short sleep taken to rest, often at night

is the formal natural unconscious state used in medical descriptions
snooze
vssleep
15 1.4

A short light sleep taken during the day, often not in bed

refers to the full natural restorative unconscious state, not just brief rests
doze
vssleep
2 2.8

A short light sleep often taken without meaning to

is the intentional full unconscious period for deep bodily recovery
light sleep
vssleep
1 3.7

A short, shallow sleep you wake up easily from

is the deeper natural unconscious process aimed at full restoration

Antonyms

232 1.1

A state of being busy and moving

5 4.7

A period when you are not sleeping, often because you cannot fall asleep at night

Idioms

in your sleep
  • Informal
29 2.7

Very easily, almost without thinking

sleep tight
  • Informal
25 3.4

To wish someone a good night's sleep

22 6.1

To feel no guilt about what you did

to sleep a wink
  • Informal
11 5.7

To get any sleep, usually said when someone did not sleep

Stay half awake and watch for danger while you sleep because you are afraid

6 9.9

To be killed and thrown into water by criminals, often said as a joke

To die peacefully, people say this as a gentle way to talk about someone's death

Accept a belief or excuse that makes someone feel better, even if it is not true

1 5.0

Not sleep at all during the night

Delay making a decision until after you think about it overnight

in one's sleep
  • Informal
1 3.9

Very easy to do without thinking

Compounds

A night of sleep that makes you feel rested and ready for the day

sleep deprivation
  • Offensive
28 5.3

Keeping someone awake on purpose to hurt or control them

25 2.8

A heavy sleep when the body and mind rest and are not aware of surroundings

sleep apnea
  • Specialized
17 4.1

Breathing stops for short times during sleep, causing poor sleep and health risks

17 3.4

A sleep thought to make you look more rested and healthy

sleep disorder
  • Specialized
16 3.5

A health problem that stops a person sleeping normally

REM sleep
  • Specialized
13 4.1

A stage of sleep with fast eye movement, clear dreams, and high brain activity

eternal sleep
  • Literature
2 8.2

A gentle way to talk about death as a peaceful, long sleep

1 3.7

A short, shallow sleep you wake up easily from

Saying words out loud while you are not awake and without knowing it

1 3.7

A sleep stage when the eyes move quickly and most dreaming happens

twilight sleep
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A state when medicine makes a person partly awake during childbirth

sleep of the just
  • Literature
1 8.4

A deep peaceful rest after living a good life

sleep-learning
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A way of learning things while you sleep by listening to recordings

NREM sleep
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A stage of sleep without fast eye movements when you usually do not dream

1 5.6

An organized event where people stay overnight to protest and ask for change

deep sleep
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A low power state when a device turns off most parts but can wake quickly

paradoxical sleep
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A part of sleep when the eyes move quickly and dreams feel real

1 3.7

A part of sleep without fast eye movements or dreams when the body repairs itself

orthodox sleep
  • Archaic
7.4

A stage of sleep without quick eye movements or dreaming when the body repairs itself

sleep dep
  • Informal
9.7

A state of not having enough sleep that makes you very tired

sleep divorce
  • Literature
7.5

A plan where a couple sleeps in separate beds or rooms because they have different sleep habits

sleep terror disorder
  • Specialized
9.2

A sleep problem where someone wakes from deep sleep with intense fear and often screams, usually without memory

How Deep

sleep
∞ 1.0
to slumber
16 3.8
nap
360 1.0
doze
2 2.8

Surface Forms

sleep singular
sleeps plural

Etymology

Sleep comes from an old German word slǣp, and is like German Schlaf and Dutch slaap. It originally meant the body's quiet rest 'when you are not conscious', which is why we still use it for night rest.