Showing results for "sleepwalking"

• present participle of sleepwalk.

sleepwalking

American  

[sleep-waw-king] / ˈslipˌwɔ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or state of walking, eating, or performing other motor acts while asleep, of which one is unaware upon awakening; a condition or disorder characterized by this.

   If the sleepwalking occurs often, the healthcare provider may do tests to rule out other disorders such as seizures.

2. the state or condition of acting seemingly without awareness, feeling, aim, or will.

   Mindfulness is a commitment to staying awake to reality in each moment—avoiding any sleepwalking through life.

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adjective

1. walking while asleep; relating to this state or condition.

   It is unwise to try waking up a sleepwalking child, as this may result in distress for the child.

2. acting seemingly without awareness, feeling, aim, or will.

   Last night Nigeria easily beat the sleepwalking UK team, now on the brink of elimination.

Other Word Forms

• sleepwalker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sleepwalking

First recorded in 1790–1800; sleep + walking

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sleepwalking

“People are kind of sleepwalking into disaster,” Nestler said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

On a never-ending feed we watch the cute and profane, sleepwalking toward an emotional state beyond shock as entertainment: the banality of passive consumption.

From Slate ● May 12, 2026

"But we seem to be sleepwalking into a conclusion that will result in the next owner of Thames Water – having, doubtless, many attributes – having none of these attributes."

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

Losing an hour of sleep because of daylight saving time had Rui Hachimura sleepwalking into the arena Sunday morning for a 12:30 p.m. tip.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2026

Suddenly she understood their strange blank incuriosity, the way their little trotting daemons seemed to be sleepwalking.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman