Sleepy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈslē-pē/

Meaning & Definition of Sleepy

Sleepy (adjective)

  1. ready to fall asleep
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep
  3. sluggish as if from sleep, lethargic; also, having little activity

Sleepy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. desiring or needing sleep

    "the sleepy children were carried up to bed"

    similar: dozy, drowsy, slumberous, somnolent
    related: asleep, dormant, dozing, resting, sleeping, slumbering, nodding, yawning
    opposite: alert, awake, conscious, wakeful, wide-awake
    near: restive, restless, sleepless, insomniac

  2. slow to move or act

    "a sleepy little town on the coast"

    similar: dull, inactive, inert, lethargic, quiescent, sluggish, torpid
    related: ambitionless, apathetic, indolent, languorous, lazy, lazyish, listless, shiftless, slack, slothful, sluggard, sluggardly, dormant, inanimate, motionless, resting, sedentary, static, still, dead, dopey, drugged, asleep, drowsy, somnambulant, catatonic, comatose
    opposite: active
    near: busy, engaged, occupied, working, animated, bouncing, dynamic, energetic, kinetic, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy, assiduous, diligent, hardworking, industrious, sedulous

  3. tending to cause sleep

    "the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge"

    similar: drowsy, hypnotic, narcotic, opiate, slumberous, somniferous, somnolent, soporific
    related: depressant, relaxant, sedative, tranquilizing, calming, comforting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, restful, settling, soothing, analgesic, anesthetic, anesthetizing, benumbing, deadening, dulling, numbing, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, stupefying
    opposite: stimulant
    near: arousing, awakening, energizing, invigorating, rousing, stimulating, wakening, waking, bracing, refreshing, restorative, reviving, stimulative, stimulatory

  4. lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation

    "a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with"

    similar: comatose, dead, slow
    related: lethargic, sluggish, torpid, dormant, fallow, free, idle, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent, off, vacant
    opposite: alive, animated, astir, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant
    near: abounding, overflowing, swarming, teeming, thronging

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sleepy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sleepy:

dozy, drowsy, slumberous, somnolent, dull, inactive, inert, lethargic, quiescent, sluggish, torpid, hypnotic, narcotic, opiate, somniferous, soporific, comatose, dead, slow

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sleepy

Words with the opposite meaning of Sleepy:

alert, awake, conscious, wakeful, wide-awake, active, stimulant, alive, animated, astir, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant

Related Words for Sleepy

asleep, dormant, dozing, resting, sleeping, slumbering, nodding, yawning, ambitionless, apathetic, indolent, languorous, lazy, lazyish, listless, shiftless, slack, slothful, sluggard, sluggardly, inanimate, motionless, sedentary, static, still, dopey, drugged, somnambulant, catatonic, depressant

Near Antonyms of Sleepy

restive, restless, sleepless, insomniac, engaged, occupied, working, bouncing, dynamic, energetic, kinetic, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy, assiduous, diligent, hardworking, industrious, sedulous, arousing, awakening, energizing, invigorating, rousing

Word Forms of Sleepy

Inflections: sleepier, sleepiest

Derived words: sleepily (adverb), sleepiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Sleepy

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Sleepy

What does "Sleepy" mean?

"Sleepy" means ready to fall asleep. As an adjective, it is defined as: ready to fall asleep. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sleepy"?

Other words for "Sleepy" include dozy, drowsy, slumberous, somnolent, dull, inactive, inert and lethargic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sleepy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sleepy"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sleepy". Common alternatives include dozy, drowsy, slumberous, somnolent, dull, inactive, inert, lethargic, quiescent and sluggish.

What is the opposite of "Sleepy"?

Antonyms of "Sleepy" include alert, awake, conscious, wakeful, wide-awake, active, stimulant and alive. Near antonyms include restive, restless, sleepless and insomniac.

How do you use "Sleepy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sleepy" in a sentence: "the sleepy children were carried up to bed"; "a sleepy little town on the coast"; "the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge".

Is "Sleepy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sleepy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Sleepy"?

"Sleepy" is pronounced /ˈslē-pē/.

What is the origin of the word "Sleepy"?

First known use: 13th century.