sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē 

sleepier; sleepiest

1

a

: ready to fall asleep

b

: of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep

2

: sluggish as if from sleep : lethargic

also : having little activity

a sleepy coastal village

3

: sleep-inducing

sleepily

ˈslē-pə-lē 

adverb

sleepiness

ˈslē-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• dozy
• drowsy
• slumberous
• slumbrous
• somnolent

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

Week 10 of the 2024 college football season is a bit light on top-25 matchups, but sleepy slates like this Saturday's often end up delivering the most chaos. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

The three-part doc made in association with All3Media International reveals a macabre discovery that trust a sleepy Welsh Valleys village into the spotlight. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024

Also, rituals of any kind are good, so my sleepy bedtime beverages are, if nothing else, an excellent soothing placebo. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024

Howes and Petersen, sleepy and half dazed, took turns at the wheel on the long drive home. —Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

sleepy

adjective

ˈslē-pē 

sleepier; sleepiest

1

: ready to fall asleep

2

: 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