asleep
21 synonyms and 1 antonyms for asleep, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — In a state of sleep.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use asleep
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English aslepe, formed from a- ("in, on") plus sleep.
Full origin of asleep →Frequently asked questions
What does “asleep” mean?
The word “asleep” means in a state of sleep. In plain terms, sleeping, or (for a body part) numb from reduced circulation.
How do you pronounce “asleep”?
“Asleep” is pronounced uh-SLEEP (/əˈsliːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “asleep” in a sentence?
Here is “asleep” used in a sentence: “The baby finally fell asleep after an hour of rocking.”
What is another word for “asleep”?
Words with a similar meaning to “asleep” include cold, comatose, dead to the world, dormant, down for the count and in the arms of Morpheus.
What is the opposite of “asleep”?
The opposite of “asleep” — its antonyms — is awake.
What part of speech is “asleep”?
“Asleep” is an adjective.
Where does the word “asleep” come from?
The word “asleep” comes from Middle English. From Middle English aslepe, formed from a- ("in, on") plus sleep.
Is “asleep” a common word?
“Asleep” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'asleep' and 'sleeping'?
'Asleep' is an adjective describing the state of being in sleep, and it normally comes after a verb like 'be' or 'fall', as in 'she is asleep'. 'Sleeping' is the present participle and can come before a noun, as in 'a sleeping child', where 'asleep' cannot be used.
Why can't you say 'an asleep child'?
'Asleep' belongs to a group of adjectives that only work after a verb (predicatively), not directly before a noun. So you say 'the child is asleep' but not 'an asleep child'; use 'a sleeping child' instead.
What is the difference between 'asleep' and 'unconscious'?
Being asleep is a natural, temporary state of rest from which a person can easily be woken. Being unconscious means a person cannot be roused normally, often because of injury, illness, or anaesthetic, so it is a more serious condition.