asleep

American  

[uh-sleep] / əˈslip /

adverb

1. in or into a state of sleep.

   He fell asleep quickly.

2. into a dormant or inactive state; to rest.

   Their anxieties were put asleep.

3. into the state of death.

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adjective

1. sleeping.

   He is asleep.

2. dormant; inactive.

3. (of the foot, hand, leg, etc.) numb.

4. dead.

asleep British  

/ əˈsliːp /

adjective

1. in or into a state of sleep

2. in or into a dormant or inactive state

3. (of limbs, esp when the blood supply to them has been restricted) numb; lacking sensation

4. euphemistic dead

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asleep Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing asleep

• fall asleep

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Other Word Forms

• half-asleep adjective
• quasi-asleep adjective

Etymology

Origin of asleep

before 1000; Middle English o slæpe, aslepe, Old English on slǣpe; a- ¹, sleep

Example Sentences

By winter’s end, he could spend several weeks at a stretch asleep in his cave.

From Literature

When I finally did fall asleep, I had a wonderful dream about owning a beautiful paint pony and a brand-new .22.

From Literature

Gran was still sound asleep, though the sky was lightening.

From Literature

On the bus to the arena for the Olympic quarterfinal matchup with Sweden last week, Hellebuyck was so relaxed that he fell asleep.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I was going into the office, working, coming home, falling asleep. I didn't really have the energy to see my friends or go to the gym," she recalls.

From BBC

Related Words

• comatose
• dormant