fall asleep

Idioms  

1. Go to sleep; also, cease paying attention. For example, As soon as the lights were dimmed he fell asleep, or His lectures are so dull that I fall asleep. The literal usage, which uses the verb fall in the sense of “succumb,” dates from about 1300; the figurative is several centuries newer. Also see asleep at the switch.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fall asleep

We’d watch something until I fall asleep usually by 10 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

One in particular struck me, telling us that before you go to bed, review all your deeds of the day three times before you fall asleep.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

In others, taking longer to fall asleep was linked to structural brain changes involving lower brain volume.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

At first, his pregnant wife was scared he might fall asleep at the wheel.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

That night, after Josie’s father and the mysterious woman went away, Josie meant to quietly burrow deeper into the blankets and fall asleep until morning.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• bed down
• doze
• languish
• relax
• snooze