sleeping (A1)
verb (present participle), adjective, noun
Pronunciation: /ˈsliːpɪŋ/
Definition
The state of resting with eyes closed and mind unconscious, typically at night.
Examples
The cat spent most of the afternoon sleeping on the warm windowsill.
I found my little brother sleeping soundly in his bed after a long day of playing.
She often dreams vividly while sleeping, sometimes even talking in her sleep.
How to Use sleeping
- fall sleeping (collocation)
- To begin to sleep (often used incorrectly, should be 'fall asleep') — "He was so tired he almost fell sleeping at his desk. (Note: 'fell asleep' is correct)"
- sleeping on it (idiom)
- To delay making a decision until the next day. — "I can't decide now; I need to sleep on it and tell you tomorrow."
- sleeping around (phrasal verb)
- To have many sexual partners (informal, often negative). — "Rumors started that he was sleeping around, which upset his girlfriend."
Synonyms of sleeping
Words with a similar meaning to sleeping:
Antonyms of sleeping
Words with the opposite meaning to sleeping:
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