sleep
verb (used without object)
to take the rest afforded by a suspension of voluntary bodily functions and the natural suspension, complete or partial, of consciousness; cease being awake.
have been sleeping
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present perfect progressiveof sleep.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those with some energy exposure have been sleeping easier.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
"Nobody knows what's happening," resident Hassan Jalwan told AFP, adding that "displaced people have been sleeping in the open" in the area.
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026
"We managed to reach Tawila, where humanitarian organisations are present. We are grateful that we arrived, even though we have been sleeping on the roads."
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025
“It’s very unfair to the client because these cases have been sleeping for 10 years.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025
Late at night when we walked home from the laundry, they should have been sleeping behind locked doors, not overflowing into the streets in front of the benevolent associations, all alit.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
