sleeping

[slee-ping]

noun

1. the condition of being asleep.

adjective

1. asleep.

2. of, relating to, or having accommodations for sleeping.

   a sleeping compartment.

3. used to sleep in or on.

   a sleeping jacket.

4. used to induce or aid sleep or while asleep.

   sleeping mask.

Other Word Forms

• unsleeping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleeping¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; sleep, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Air Greenland has turned airport meeting rooms and a lounge into make-shift sleeping areas with mattresses.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

She recalled spending the first nights sleeping on cold floors of police holding cells.

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Her son, Li Chen-ho, stocked up for a recent trek with a sleeping bag, a change of clothes, a water bottle and instant rice.

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Two-thirds of the deaths were of people living in temporary or supported accommodation, while 169 were rough sleeping.

Read more on BBC

A sleeping 3-year-old boy died after being struck by a collapsing chimney in the Landers earthquake.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comatose 
• unconscious