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.
were 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.
While you were sleeping, President Trump’s temporary tariffs expired.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
They were sleeping in two distinct blocks, from nine in the morning until one, then again in the afternoon before the next shift.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
"We were sleeping on a mat outside the church last night," said Tran Le Tap, a 65-year-old saleswoman who travelled from the southern province of An Giang.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Crews believe the women were sleeping when they were caught off guard by the quickly rising tide and dragged into the ocean, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026
Some of the people in the line were sleeping.
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
