WordGarden.iosleepless
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /slˈiːpləs/
US
- /ˈslipləs/
Meanings
Adjective
unable to sleep or marked by lack of sleep
Beyond the definition
"Sleepless" describes being unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. It can be about one hard night, or about a time of worry when rest does not come easily. Think of a detective in an old film pacing his office, kept awake by a difficult case. Or think of the night before an important event, when your mind keeps moving and sleep stays far away.
The word is also used in a figurative way for a person, feeling, or situation filled with worry and no peace. A sleepless night may come from fear, guilt, excitement, or stress. The idea is not only the lack of sleep, but also the troubled feeling behind it.
"Sleepless" describes being unable to sleep well or at all. A person may not be able to fall asleep, may wake again and again during the night, or may wake too early and not get back to sleep. Sometimes the word is used for one difficult night, and sometimes it suggests a longer period of poor rest.
You might describe a night before an exam, a flight, or bad news as "a sleepless night." In such cases, the word often points not only to missing sleep but also to the reason behind it: worry, excitement, fear, grief, or stress. It carries a feeling of unease and tiredness.
The word can also be used in a more figurative or literary way. A writer may speak of a "sleepless conscience" or a "sleepless city." In these uses, the idea is not simply that someone is awake, but that there is constant movement, tension, or lack of peace.
"Sleepless" is closely related to "sleeplessness," which names the condition itself. Whether the word describes a single difficult night or a longer stretch of troubled rest, it suggests that calm, refreshing sleep is missing.
Examples
- 1
New parents
New parents often go through weeks of sleepless nights.
- 2
Exam anxiety
She spent a sleepless night waiting for the exam results.
- 3
Physical discomfort
I've been sleepless lately because of the heat.
- 4
Worry
He was sleepless with worry while his daughter was overseas.
- Patternsleepless with + feeling
unable to sleep because of that feeling
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Awake in bed
She lay sleepless, listening for the sound of his car in the driveway.
- Phraselay sleepless
stayed awake in bed
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- sleeplessadjective