asleep

a-sleep · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    In a state of sleep; sleeping.

  2. 2.

    (Of a limb) Numb due to restricted blood flow.

  3. 3.

    [literary]Dead (euphemism).

  4. 4.

    Into a state of sleep.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    fall asleep — Begin sleeping.
  • •
    fast asleep — Deeply asleep.
  • •
    half asleep — Barely awake; drowsy.
  • •
    asleep at the wheel/switch — Not paying attention when one should be.
  • •
    sound asleep — Sleeping deeply.
  • •
    be asleep on one's feet — Be extremely tired while standing.

Related words

Antonyms: alert, awake, conscious
See also: awake, drowsy, sleep, sleeping
Synonyms: dormant, dozing, sleeping, slumbering

Etymology

From Old English on slǣpe ("in sleep"), from on ("in, on") + slǣp ("sleep"). The preposition merged with the noun to form a single word.