sleepy

[slee-pee]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• sleepily adverb
• sleepiness noun
• unsleepy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleepy¹

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

Example Sentences

They mean, “I put on episodes I’ve seen before and it’s comforting in a profoundly, sleepy way.”

From Los Angeles Times

The latest hipster destination is Canggu, a once sleepy fishing village that has become a magnet for surfers from around the world.

From BBC

“The Night of the Iguana” takes place in a sleepy, seaside Mexican village in 1940, just as Hitler’s Germany was advancing on Europe and Japan was plotting similar jingoistic pursuits on its own front.

From Los Angeles Times

He's so laid-back it's almost comical, speaking in a perpetually sleepy drawl, like the Big Lebowski of music.

From BBC

But alarming levels of violent crime have rocked the once sleepy British Overseas Territory, earning it accolades it welcomes far less.

From BBC

Related Words

• drowsy 
• lethargic 
• listless 
• quiet 
• sluggish