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

Derived Forms

• sleepwalker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sleepwalking

First recorded in 1790–1800; sleep + walking

Example Sentences

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

Thames Water should be put into administration rather than "sleepwalking" into a deal that is bad for customers, according to a Hong Kong-based investor who wants to buy the business.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

More recently, he has warned that the country is sleepwalking into economic stasis, thanks to bad policies and rules that make it hard to invest in new ventures and run companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

While basically sleepwalking through the first three games of the NLCS, Shohei Ohtani saves his best for last.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2025

“Or maybe we were both sleepwalking at the same moment,” Stephen suggested.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate