Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective In a state of sleep; sleeping.
- adjective Inactive; dormant.
- adjective Indifferent.
- adjective Numb, especially from reduced circulation of blood to a limb.
- adjective Dead.
- adverb In or into a state of sleep.
- adverb In or into a state of apathy or indifference.
- adverb Into a state of numbness.
- adverb Into the sleep of the dead.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In or into a state of sleep: as, to fall asleep.
- Figuratively— Dead; in or into a state of death: chiefly in the Scriptures and religious literature.
- Dormant; inactive; idle.
- Having a peculiar numb feeling, accompanied by or passing off with a prickly tingling sensation.
- Nautical, said of sails when the wind is just strong enough to distend them and prevent them from shaking.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.
- In the sleep of the grave; dead.
- Numbed, and, usually, tingling.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective In a state of
sleep ; also, broadly,resting . - adjective slang Inattentive.
- adjective of a body part Having a
numb orprickling sensation accompanied by a degree ofunresponsiveness . - adjective euphemistic
dead
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in the sleep of death
- adverb into a sleeping state
- adjective dead
- adjective lacking sensation
- adjective in a state of sleep
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word asleep.
Examples
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
-
The world has changed and I refuse to remain asleep to it!
The World Has Changed Alice Walker Blog Administrator 2009
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
-
My favourite way to fall asleep is with my nose in his hair.
Archive 2009-02-01 zombietron 2009
-
Pretending to be asleep is a good way to deter people from bothering you.
Use Unplugged Earphones To Avoid Pesky Interruptions | Lifehacker Australia 2009
-
My favourite way to fall asleep is with my nose in his hair.
Scented zombietron 2009
-
GROSS: You know, the fact that it's potentially dangerous to fall asleep is pretty scary because theoretically, it's the time when you're safely tucked in your bed, and everything's quiet, and your body's in a state of relaxation, whereas you risk jumping out the window.
bilby commented on the word asleep
"In the early light the sea is blue-black like ink. Kidgell is carefully folding his blankets into a mess, 'I haven't slept that well for years.'
'How do you know?' I said. 'You were asleep.'"
- Spike Milligan, 'Mussolini: My Part In His Downfall.'
April 18, 2009