- present participle of sleep.
sleeping
Americannoun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or having accommodations for sleeping.
a sleeping compartment.
-
used to sleep in or on.
a sleeping jacket.
-
used to induce or aid sleep or while asleep.
sleeping mask.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sleeping
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at sleep, -ing 1, -ing 2
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.
It also says never to buy a baby sleeping bag with a hood or without armholes, or one with excess material or attachments, and to make sure to buy the right size sleeping bag.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026
They feel as if everything is still shaking around them, they have difficulty sleeping and resting and sometimes they feel guilty for having survived while others have died.
From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026
The detective noted the inconsistency, which Bušić attributed to not sleeping for “four or five days.”
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026
Some supporters who did not make it to a pub were faced with the risk of waking up their sleeping children if their celebrations became too rowdy.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Hibernation would be too much sleeping, even by Duane’s standards.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
