rapid eye movement

American  

noun

1. rapidly shifting, continuous movements of the eyes beneath closed lids during the stage of sleep characterized by dreaming.

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rapid eye movement British  

noun

1.  REM.  movement of the eyeballs under closed eyelids during paradoxical sleep, which occurs while the sleeper is dreaming

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Etymology

Origin of rapid eye movement

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

The findings support the idea that REM sleep, the rapid eye movement stage of sleep when vivid and sometimes lucid dreams occur, may be especially helpful for creative problem solving.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2026

Lucid dreams are generally thought to emerge from standard dreams in rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep.

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2023

Researchers found no evidence that slumbering longer at any one stage of sleep affected brain functions, contradicting a long-debated hypothesis that rapid eye movement or REM sleep is more beneficial to healthier brain function.

From Washington Times • Jul. 18, 2023

They have long thought these insights came from the rapid eye movement stage of sleep, which is rich with dreams and begins an hour or more into the sleep cycle.

From Scientific American • May 15, 2023

Sleeping for longer, uninterrupted periods of time allows for REM sleep, a period of unconscious rapid eye movement that corresponds with high activity in the brain.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2023