sleepwalk

American  

[sleep-wawk] / ˈslipˌwɔk /

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in sleepwalking.

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noun

1. an act of sleepwalking; somnambulation.

sleepwalk British  

/ ˈsliːpˌwɔːk /

verb

1. (intr) to walk while asleep See also somnambulism

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Other Word Forms

• sleepwalker noun
• sleepwalking noun

Etymology

Origin of sleepwalk

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from sleepwalking

Explanation

To sleepwalk is to walk around despite being sound asleep. If you wake up outside in your PJ's, then, chances are, you were sleepwalking. A fancier word for sleepwalk is sonamubulate, and the act of sleepwalking is known as sonambulism by doctors who study and treat sleep disorders. It's considered a disorder to sleepwalk because normally your sleeping brain keeps you from performing actions like walking (even when you dream that you're walking). In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, there is a famous scene in which Lady Macbeth sleepwalks because of her guilty conscience.

Example Sentences

They could sleepwalk their way through the first three quarters and still pull it out in the end.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Although this recipe does involve more moves than, say, sleepwalk chicken and vegetables, it’s still blissfully easy.

From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024

Perhaps cognizant that he needs to sleepwalk through a couple more interviews before the primary on March 5, Garvey has subjected himself to short TV segments of late.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2024

The Kings cannot continue to expect to sleepwalk in the first period and come back later against the Oilers who have edges in scoring, skill and size.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2023

They did not insist, because of both her extreme sensitivity and her tendency to sleepwalk whenever her imagination ran away with her.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende