sleep
verb (used without object)
to take the rest afforded by a suspension of voluntary bodily functions and the natural suspension, complete or partial, of consciousness; cease being awake.
was sleeping
-
past progressiveof sleep.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The captain was sleeping in his cabin at the time of the collision and not at the bridge, in what the report described as a clear violation of the so-called "Watch Condition B" safety procedures.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
He pointed to a pile of litter and flattened cardboard boxes on the concrete ground where he said he was sleeping at night.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
"She was sleeping with an eye mask on, and ear plugs so had not heard what had happened either."
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
“He was sleeping two hours a night. He was a nervous wreck.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
Since Mrs. Caruthers’s fit, Ophie had taken to leaving it open; the old woman couldn’t complain of an imaginary draft when she was sleeping most of the time.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
