oversleep

American  

[oh-ver-sleep] / ˌoʊ vərˈslip /

verb (used without object)

oversleeps, present (3rd person singular) overslept, past participle, past oversleeping present participle

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

   He overslept and missed his train.

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verb (used with object)

oversleeps, present (3rd person singular) overslept, past participle, past oversleeping present participle

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

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• oversleeping
  present
• overslept
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• oversleep
  simple
• oversleeps
  simple
• have overslept
  perfect
• has overslept
  perfect
• am oversleeping
  progressive
• are oversleeping
  progressive
• is oversleeping
  progressive
• have been oversleeping
  perfect progressive
• has been oversleeping
  perfect progressive

Past

• overslept
  simple
• had overslept
  perfect
• was oversleeping
  progressive
• were oversleeping
  progressive
• had been oversleeping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will oversleep
  simple
• will have overslept
  perfect
• will be oversleeping
  progressive
• will have been oversleeping
  perfect progressive

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

We all know that getting enough sleep is critical to health and specifically to healthy aging, and many doctors rightfully call Americans’ chronic lack of proper sleep a public health crisis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2025

Overall, student-athletes identified the areas of proper nutrition, mental wellness, getting proper sleep, weight management and body image as topics that coaches and administrators should spend more time discussing with their student-athletes.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023

And establishing proper sleep hygiene — the best cure for most insomnia — can take weeks of devoted work.

From The Verge • Jan. 13, 2021

He wanted Oviatt to watch over the “little things,” such as helping with nutrition, proper sleep, stretching, relaxation.

From Washington Times • Jun. 13, 2016

But as Naomi said Wash’s name over and over in the silence of her exhausted brain, her grip on the letter opener began to slip, and she descended into the blue depths of proper sleep.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez