oversleep

American  

[oh-ver-sleep] / ˌoʊ vərˈslip /

verb (used without object)

overslept, oversleeping

1. to sleep beyond the proper or intended time of waking.

   He overslept and missed his train.

---

verb (used with object)

overslept, oversleeping

1. to sleep beyond (a certain hour).

   She had overslept her usual time of arising.

2. to let (oneself ) sleep past the hour of arising.

   Of all mornings to oversleep myself!

oversleep British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈsliːp /

verb

1. (intr) to sleep beyond the intended time for getting up

---

Etymology

Origin of oversleep

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at over-, sleep

Explanation

When you oversleep, you stay asleep longer than you meant to. If you forget to set your alarm clock, you're likely to oversleep. People oversleep all the time, and they end up being late to school, work, or appointments. No one ever intends to oversleep. If you intend to keep sleeping, you would refer to it as "sleeping in." The verb oversleep is an old one, dating from the fourteenth century, and it's related to the Old English noun oferslæp, "too much sleep."

Example Sentences

If I happen to oversleep, the music serves as my alarm clock.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2023

Symptoms include a tendency to overeat, oversleep, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating on tasks.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The first time I picked him up for an early morning appointment I must have set a dozen alarms, terrified I’d oversleep.

From Washington Post • Dec. 20, 2021

The average American will also oversleep and be late for work once a week, with one in six saying that number is actually higher.

From Fox News • Jun. 9, 2019

Cole woke often during the night, afraid he might oversleep.

From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen