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noun

sleepyhead

SLEE-pee-hehd
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Sleepyhead (noun) means (informal) A person who is sleepy, or who tends to sleep in — often used affectionately. Example: “Come on, sleepyhead, breakfast is getting cold.”

noun
1
(informal) A person who is sleepy, or who tends to sleep in — often used affectionately.
"Hey now sleepyhead, it's time for you to go to bed."
"Come on, sleepyhead, breakfast is getting cold."
"The following morning, Liz had to come and shake David awake. “Hey, sleepyhead, rise and shine. I've been tapping your door for the past ten minutes. Aren't you going to college today?”" — Chris d'Lacey, The Fire Within (2001)
"“Why, yes,” said Augustus, “the birds seem to be the first ones up each morning, awakening the sleepyheads.”" — Jefffrey P. Brown, Black Body Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastrophe (2007)

How to use sleepyhead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA playful name for someone who's drowsy or slow to wake up.

When to use it

Informal and usually affectionate, often used with children.

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Word forms

Plural
sleepyheads
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Come on, _____, breakfast is getting cold.

Etymology

From "sleepy" plus "head."

Rhymes for sleepyhead

See all rhymes for sleepyhead →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sleepyhead” mean?
The word “sleepyhead” means (informal) A person who is sleepy, or who tends to sleep in — often used affectionately. In plain terms, a playful name for someone who's drowsy or slow to wake up.
How do you pronounce “sleepyhead”?
“Sleepyhead” is pronounced SLEE-pee-hehd (/ˈslipiˌhɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleepyhead” in a sentence?
Here is “sleepyhead” used in a sentence: “Come on, sleepyhead, breakfast is getting cold.”
What part of speech is “sleepyhead”?
“Sleepyhead” is a noun.