sleep
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
How often you will meet it
Rank 519 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 38,104 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.018% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended also: slumber he didn't get enough sleep last nightcalm as a child in dreamless slumber
- a torpid state resembling deep sleep also: sopor
- a period of time spent sleeping also: nap he felt better after a little sleepthere wasn't time for a nap
- euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb) also: rest, eternal rest, eternal sleep, quietus she was laid to rest beside her husbandthey had to put their family pet to sleep
verb
- be asleep also: kip, slumber, log Z's, catch some Z's
- be able to accommodate for sleeping This tent sleeps six people
sleep in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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From twelve to two I would lie down to sleep.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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I don’t want to sleep or do anything any more.
Cornelli · Johanna Spyri · Chapter 1
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Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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Gervaise, who had cried himself to sleep, lay on a couch beside her.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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Then Kit and Kat hugged her and said good-night, and popped off to sleep before you could wink your eyes.
The Dutch Twins · Lucy Fitch Perkins · Chapter 1