English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj A2 Elementary Uncommon

sleepless

SLEEP-luhs

Sleepless (adj) means Unable to sleep, or marked by an absence of sleep. Example: “She spent a sleepless night worrying about the interview.”

adj
1
Unable to sleep, or marked by an absence of sleep.
"She spent a sleepless night worrying about the interview."
"After three sleepless nights, he finally saw a doctor about the pain."

How to use sleepless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWithout sleep — describing a night, or a person who can't sleep.

Common pairings
sleepless night sleepless nights

Word forms

more sleepless comparative, most sleepless superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “sleepless” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She spent a _____ night worrying about the interview.

Etymology

From Old English slǣplēas, literally "sleep" plus "-less" ("without").

Origin: Old English

Antonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “sleepless” mean?

The word “sleepless” means unable to sleep, or marked by an absence of sleep. In plain terms, without sleep — describing a night, or a person who can't sleep.

How do you pronounce “sleepless”?

“Sleepless” is pronounced SLEEP-luhs (/ˈsliːpləs/ in IPA).

How do you use “sleepless” in a sentence?

Here is “sleepless” used in a sentence: “She spent a sleepless night worrying about the interview.”

What is the opposite of “sleepless”?

The opposite of “sleepless” — its antonyms — is wakeless.

What part of speech is “sleepless”?

“Sleepless” is an adjective.

Where does the word “sleepless” come from?

The word “sleepless” comes from Old English. From Old English slǣplēas, literally "sleep" plus "-less" ("without").

Is “sleepless” a common word?

“Sleepless” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial