sleep
sleep — verb
1. to go into a natural state of rest at night, during which your eyes stay closed
to go into a natural state of rest at night, during which your eyes stay closed and you are not aware of what is happening around you.
Sahil usually sleeps for about eight hours every night.
sleep + for + duration
The baby finally slept through the whole night without crying.
sleep through the night
Joaquín was so tired that he slept on the sofa for two hours.
The cat sleeps on the windowsill every afternoon when the sun is warm.
During the camping trip, Esme slept in a small tent next to the river.
- wake up
to stop sleeping; the opposite action
- stay awake
to choose not to sleep
文法句型
sleep
sleep + adverb of place/time
用法筆記
This is the basic, most common meaning. It is primarily intransitive — you do not 'sleep something'. The exception is the fixed pattern 'sleep a ... sleep' (e.g. 'sleep a good sleep').
常見錯誤
2. when a room, vehicle, or tent contains beds for a given number of people, the ve
when a room, vehicle, or tent contains beds for a given number of people, the verb 'sleep' is used to describe its capacity — for instance, a cabin that sleeps four people has beds for four.
The cabin sleeps six people, with two bunk beds and a sofa bed.
building/room sleeps + number
Their large family tent sleeps four adults comfortably.
The tent sleeps four, so there was plenty of room for Isabela and her three cousins.
The hotel room sleeps three, with a double bed and a rollaway cot.
Their new motorhome sleeps six and has a small kitchen and bathroom.
- accommodate
broader meaning; includes sleeping, sitting, or housing in general
- hold
less formal; used for rooms, vehicles, and containers
文法句型
sleep + number of people
用法筆記
Only used with a number or quantity. You cannot say 'This tent sleeps people' — you must say how many. The subject is always a place or vehicle, never a person.
常見錯誤
3. to experience a particular quality or type of sleep, especially in terms of how
to experience a particular quality or type of sleep, especially in terms of how well or how long you rest.
Adina slept badly last night because of the noise from the street.
sleep + badly
After a long walk in the mountains, Liang slept deeply for ten hours.
sleep + deeply
The new mattress helped Christopher sleep much more soundly than before.
After the medicine, the patient slept peacefully for the first time in days.
Daniel slept poorly on the plane because the seat would not recline.
文法句型
sleep + adverb (well, badly, deeply, soundly)
用法筆記
Unlike the core sense (verb/1), this sense must be followed by an adverb describing the quality of sleep. On its own, 'I slept' does not belong to this sense — it belongs to sense 1.
4. to postpone making a final choice until after a night of rest, allowing extra ti
to postpone making a final choice until after a night of rest, allowing extra time for careful thought.
I am not sure whether to accept the job offer, so I will sleep on it.
sleep on it (idiomatic)
Yasmin told her partner she needed to sleep on the proposal before giving an answer.
Instead of making a quick choice, Michael decided to sleep on the matter until morning.
Before signing the contract, Sahil decided to sleep on the terms one more night.
The committee agreed to sleep on the proposal and meet again in the morning.
- think it over
more general; does not imply waiting until the next day
- take time to decide
more formal; can mean any length of time
- decide immediately
to make a choice without any delay
文法句型
sleep on it
sleep on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used with 'on' as a phrasal verb. The decision is typically an important one — job offers, purchases, relationship choices. This is a fixed idiomatic expression.
常見錯誤
5. to fail to notice or appreciate the true value or importance of someone or somet
to fail to notice or appreciate the true value or importance of someone or something, often missing a good opportunity as a result.
Do not sleep on that band — their new album is truly amazing.
negative imperative: don't sleep on
Lakan slept on the warning signs until it was too late to fix the problem.
Critics slept on the film when it first came out, but now people love it.
Investors slept on the small tech company, not realizing how fast it would grow.
I slept on the local jazz club for years, but once I finally went, I regretted not going sooner.
- overlook
more formal; to fail to notice
- underestimate
to judge something as less valuable than it truly is
- recognize
to acknowledge the value or importance of something
文法句型
sleep on + noun phrase (in negative imperative)
用法筆記
Common in informal and slang contexts, especially in recommendations ('don't sleep on X'). This sense is different from verb/4 ('sleep on it' = delay a decision) — here 'sleep on' means 'ignore or overlook'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Don't sleep on it — make a choice now.' — Confusing this sense with verb/4 (DELAY DECISION). This sense criticizes ignoring value, not postponing a decision.
6. to spend the night outdoors or in a public place because you lack a permanent ho
to spend the night outdoors or in a public place because you lack a permanent home.
After losing his job and his flat, Ziad had to sleep rough for several weeks.
sleep rough (BrE)
The charity provides hot meals for people who are sleeping rough in the city centre.
More young people are sleeping rough this winter because of the high cost of housing.
The shelter offers a warm bed to anyone who would otherwise sleep rough.
A charity runs a winter programme to help people who sleep rough in the cold.
- sleep on the streets
more literal and used in both British and American English
- have a home
to have regular shelter and a bed to sleep in
- stay indoors
to sleep inside a building
文法句型
sleep rough
sleep on the streets
用法筆記
Primarily British English. The equivalent American expression is 'sleep on the streets' or 'sleep outside'. The adjective 'rough' follows the verb directly and cannot be moved.
7. a warm, informal expression said to a person who is heading to bed, wishing them
a warm, informal expression said to a person who is heading to bed, wishing them a comfortable and restful night.
Liang kissed his daughter on the forehead and said, 'Sleep tight, little one.'
imperative: sleep tight
Before closing the bedroom door, Daniel whispered, 'Sleep well, everyone.'
The camp leaders told the children to sleep tight and gave each one a warm blanket.
Tucking in her niece, Adina smiled and whispered, 'Sleep tight, sweetheart.'
The nurse told each patient to sleep tight before turning off the lights.
- sleep well
more neutral; expresses the same wish without the informal rhyme association
- sweet dreams
focuses on dreaming rather than the quality of sleep itself
文法句型
Sleep tight!
Sleep well!
用法筆記
Almost always used as an imperative or a wish, not in past tense. 'Sleep tight' is often paired with 'don't let the bedbugs bite' as a playful, traditional rhyme. 'Sleep well' is a more neutral alternative.
sleep — noun
1. the natural condition of the body and mind when you are not awake, your eyes are
the natural condition of the body and mind when you are not awake, your eyes are closed, and you are unaware of what is happening around you.
Doctors say that adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night.
uncountable: need + sleep
The loud music from the party next door interrupted my sleep at midnight.
Michael has been having trouble with sleep ever since he started working night shifts.
Researchers say that a lack of sleep can affect your memory and concentration.
Joaquín felt refreshed after eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
- wakefulness
the state of being awake and alert
- insomnia
the medical condition of being unable to sleep
文法句型
sleep
get some sleep
need sleep
用法筆記
This is the uncountable noun form — you cannot say 'a sleep' when referring to the general state. 'A sleep' (countable) is used for a specific period (see noun sense 4).
常見錯誤
2. the moment or process of beginning to sleep; used in fixed expressions that desc
the moment or process of beginning to sleep; used in fixed expressions that describe the transition from being awake to being asleep.
Daniel told his daughter a short story to help her go to sleep.
go to sleep
The gentle rocking of the train sent the tired passengers to sleep.
send + someone + to sleep
Esme listened to soft music as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
The sound of rain on the roof helped Christopher quickly go to sleep.
Ziad read a chapter of his book before finally drifting off to sleep.
- wake up
the moment of becoming conscious again
文法句型
go to sleep
drift off to sleep
send someone to sleep
用法筆記
This sense only appears in fixed phrases. 'Go to sleep' is the most common. 'Drift off to sleep' suggests a slow, natural transition. This sense is distinct from noun/3 (GET TO SLEEP), which emphasizes successfully achieving sleep despite difficulty.
常見錯誤
3. to succeed in falling asleep, especially when you are trying but finding it diff
to succeed in falling asleep, especially when you are trying but finding it difficult.
Christopher was too excited to get to sleep on the night before his holiday.
get to sleep (succeeding)
Adina drank warm milk to help herself get to sleep after a stressful day.
The baby would not get to sleep until her mother sang a lullaby.
The noisy traffic outside made it very hard for Sahil to get to sleep.
Yasmin counted sheep in an effort to get to sleep on the night before her exam.
- fall asleep
the most general expression for the transition
- doze off
informal; suggests a lighter, unintended sleep
- stay awake
to avoid falling asleep on purpose
- lie awake
to be in bed without being able to sleep
文法句型
get to sleep
cannot get to sleep
用法筆記
'Get to sleep' emphasizes success — especially after initial difficulty. Compare 'go to sleep' (noun/2), which describes starting the process without implying trouble. In negative form, 'cannot get to sleep' is a common way to describe insomnia.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I finally went to sleep after two hours.' — This can be ambiguous. If you mean you succeeded despite difficulty, prefer 'I finally got to sleep after struggling for two hours.'
4. a single stretch during which you sleep, often described by how long or how well
a single stretch during which you sleep, often described by how long or how well you rested.
After the long flight, Sahil had a short sleep on the sofa before dinner.
a + adjective + sleep
Yasmin felt much better after a good sleep and a hot shower.
The old cat enjoyed a long, peaceful sleep in the warm afternoon sun.
Marco took a quick sleep during his lunch break to regain his energy.
The hikers enjoyed a peaceful sleep under the stars at the campsite.
文法句型
a + adjective + sleep
a + number-hour + sleep
用法筆記
This is the countable form. You can say 'a sleep', 'a good sleep', 'a short sleep', etc. A common pattern is 'a + adjective + sleep' where the adjective describes the duration or quality. Not used with numbers directly — say 'eight hours of sleep' (uncountable, noun/1) rather than 'an eight-hour sleep' (possible but less common).
常見錯誤
5. one night counted as a simple unit for measuring how many days remain before a p
one night counted as a simple unit for measuring how many days remain before a planned event, often used when talking to children.
Christmas is only three sleeps away, and the children can hardly wait.
number + sleep(s) away
Liang told his son that their trip to the beach was just one sleep away.
Our holiday begins in two more sleeps — I have already packed my bags.
Only five more sleeps until Grandma arrives for the holiday celebration.
Daniel told his little brother that there were just two sleeps left until the fair.
文法句型
a sleep (referring to a night away)
two sleeps away
用法筆記
This is an informal, child-friendly way to talk about time. A 'sleep' here means 'a night that passes before something happens'. Most common with young children: 'only five more sleeps until your birthday.'
6. the small crusty or sticky bits that form at the inner edge of your eye while yo
the small crusty or sticky bits that form at the inner edge of your eye while you are sleeping.
Lakan wiped the sleep from his eyes before going to the bathroom to wash his face.
sleep (from someone's eyes)
The toddler woke up with sleep in the corners of his eyes and rubbed them with his fists.
Nadia gently cleaned the sleep from the baby's eyes with a soft, damp cloth.
After his nap, the little boy had sleep in both eyes and needed help cleaning up.
Liang splashed cold water on his face to wash the sleep from his eyes.
- rheum
the formal medical term; not used in everyday conversation
文法句型
sleep (in/from one's eyes)
用法筆記
This is an informal, uncountable noun meaning the dried fluid around the eyes. It is never used with an article ('a sleep' in this sense is wrong). The more formal medical term is 'rheum'.