noun Uncommon

sleeper

SLEE-puh

Sleeper (noun) means someone who is sleeping. Example: “She's a light sleeper — the slightest noise wakes her up.”

noun

Someone who is sleeping.

"She's a light sleeper — the slightest noise wakes her up."

A spy or agent who lives an ordinary life in a community until activated for a mission.

"The film follows a Cold War sleeper waiting years for a single coded message."

Something — a film, product, or competitor — that unexpectedly becomes a big success after being overlooked.

"The low-budget film became a sleeper hit, earning ten times its budget."

(British) A wooden or concrete beam laid under railway tracks to support them; a railroad tie.

"Workers replaced the rotting sleepers along that stretch of track."

A car that has been heavily modified for performance while still looking ordinary.

"His beat-up sedan was a total sleeper — it could outrun most sports cars off the line."

How to use sleeper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone or something asleep, dormant, or hidden — until it unexpectedly succeeds or gets activated.

UK vs US

"Sleeper" for a railroad tie is standard British usage; American English calls the same thing a "tie."

Common pairings

sleeper cell sleeper hit railway sleeper

Word forms

sleepered past tense, sleepers plural, sleepers plural, Sleepers plural, sleepers singular

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She's a light _____ — the slightest noise wakes her up.

Etymology

Formed from "sleep" plus the agent suffix "-er," originally just meaning "one who sleeps."

Synonyms

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tie crosstie slumberer wagon-lit railroad tie sleeping car sleeper goby

Related words

relationship link tie relation loose associate retreat knot

Rhymes for sleeper

leper keeper peeper beeper sweeper creeper steeper beekeeper innkeeper zookeeper goalkeeper shopkeeper

See all rhymes for sleeper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sleeper” mean?

The word “sleeper” means someone who is sleeping. In plain terms, someone or something asleep, dormant, or hidden — until it unexpectedly succeeds or gets activated.

How do you pronounce “sleeper”?

“Sleeper” is pronounced SLEE-puh (/ˈsliːpə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “sleeper” in a sentence?

Here is “sleeper” used in a sentence: “She's a light sleeper — the slightest noise wakes her up.”

What part of speech is “sleeper”?

“Sleeper” is a noun.

Is “sleeper” a common word?

“Sleeper” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “sleeper” have?

“Sleeper” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who is sleeping.

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relationship link tie relation loose associate retreat knot