sleeping
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for sleeping, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Currently asleep.
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.
How to use sleeping
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “sleeping” mean?
The word “sleeping” means currently asleep. In plain terms, being asleep, or designed to help someone sleep.
How do you pronounce “sleeping”?
“Sleeping” is pronounced SLEE-pihng (/ˈsliːpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleeping” in a sentence?
Here is “sleeping” used in a sentence: “Try not to wake the sleeping baby.”
What part of speech is “sleeping”?
“Sleeping” is an adjective.
Is “sleeping” a common word?
“Sleeping” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sleeping” have?
“Sleeping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: currently asleep.
What is the difference between sleeping and asleep?
They mean the same state but work differently in a sentence. Asleep is used after the verb, as in she is asleep, and rarely before a noun. Sleeping can do both: it describes the ongoing action, and it sits before a noun, as in a sleeping child or sleeping dog.
What is an example of 'sleeping' used as an adjective?
For example: 'Try not to wake the sleeping baby.' Here sleeping describes the baby's current state. The same pattern appears in a sleeping passenger or sleeping cat. Figuratively, a sleeping giant means a powerful force that is inactive but could awaken.