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Synonyms

sleepy

American  
[slee-pee] / ˈsli pi /

adjective

sleepier, sleepiest

  1. ready or inclined to sleep; drowsy.

    Synonyms:
    slumberous, somnolent, tired

  2. of or showing drowsiness.

  3. languid; languorous.

    a sleepy gesture.

  4. lethargic; sluggish.

    a sleepy brook.

  5. quiet.

    a sleepy village.

  6. inducing sleep; soporific.

    sleepy warmth.
sleepy British  
/ ˈsliːpɪ /

adjective

  1. inclined to or needing sleep; drowsy

  2. characterized by or exhibiting drowsiness, sluggishness, etc

  3. conducive to sleep; soporific

  4. without activity or bustle

    a sleepy town
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sleepily adverb
  • sleepiness noun
  • unsleepy adjective

Etymology

Origin of sleepy

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; sleep, -y 1

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.

They were less sleepy and could remain awake longer during simulated work hours.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

The single Nightingale Lane is named after the scene of her first heartbreak, on a sleepy street near Clapham.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

But some who have spent time with him in recent months have also found him adrift and isolated, with Meghan chasing new pursuits as he passes the time in his sleepy new hometown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Andre, an 86-year-old neighbour of the house that was briefly Khomeini's headquarters, recalled the sudden storm that hit sleepy Neauphle-le-Chateau in the Yvelines department.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

“There’s someone downstairs says they need to see you immediately,” came the landlord’s sleepy voice.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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.