sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē

sleepier; sleepiest

Synonyms of sleepy

: ready to fall asleep

: of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep

: sluggish as if from sleep : lethargic

also : having little activity

a sleepy coastal village

: sleep-inducing

sleepily

ˈslē-pə-lē

adverb

sleepiness

ˈslē-pē-nəs

noun

Examples of sleepy in a Sentence

She felt sleepy and went to bed. the sleepy children were carried up to bed

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The sleepy Silicon Valley enclave has reclaimed its title as the country’s most expensive ZIP code, overtaking Miami’s Fisher Island after home prices surged during the first half of the year. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2026 Current therapies, stimulants and sodium oxybates, carry risk of misuse, and patients still feel sleepy while taking them. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026 SpaceX employs about 5,000 people directly in the Brownsville region and has transformed a sleepy border area into an aerospace powerhouse. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 This week, kids will learn some new dance moves, maybe even find a new favorite sleepy time song. — Parents, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleepy

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of sleepy was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sleepy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleepy. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē

sleepier; sleepiest

: ready to fall asleep

: quietly inactive

a sleepy village

sleepily

-pə-lē

adverb

sleepiness

-pē-nəs

noun

Medical Definition

sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē

sleepier; sleepiest

: ready to fall asleep

sleepiness

-pē-nəs

noun

sleepy

adjective

Synonyms of sleepy

Examples of sleepy in a Sentence

Word History

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sleepy

adjective

Synonyms of sleepy

Examples of sleepy in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for sleepy

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to sleepy

8 Obscure Words for Sleepy Times

7 Words to Beat the Summer Heat

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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