sleepless

[sleep-lis]

adjective

1. without sleep.

   a sleepless night.

2. watchful; alert.

   sleepless devotion to duty.

3. always active.

   the sleepless ocean.

sleepless

/ ˈsliːplɪs /

adjective

1. without sleep or rest

   a sleepless journey

2. unable to sleep

3. always watchful or alert

4. poetic,  always active or moving

   the sleepless tides

Other Word Forms

• sleeplessly adverb
• sleeplessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleepless¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; sleep, -less

Example Sentences

But even they must endure one sleepless night contemplating unemployment.

From Los Angeles Times

Model and entrepreneur Heming Willis said she thought at first she had to help her husband all by herself, which led to sleepless nights and withdrawal from social life.

From BBC

That evening, Matías said, she spent a sleepless night in detention in downtown Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Bangor Academy Principal, Matthew Pitts, said he had a few "sleepless nights" ahead of results day.

From BBC

A cafe owner says she has suffered sleepless nights due to an energy supplier's "bullying tactics" over a disputed bill.

From BBC

Related Words

• fidgety