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asleep

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /əˈsliːp/

asleep means: Sleeping rather than awake.

adjective

SLEEPINGA1

Sleeping rather than awake.

  • The baby is asleep.
  • I fell asleep during the film.
  • Were you still asleep when I called?

How to use it: be asleep (The children are asleep.); fall asleep (I fell asleep on the train.)

Similar words: sleeping

Opposites: awake

Common phrases: fall asleep, fast asleep, sound asleep

NUMBB2

Unable to feel normally, often with an uncomfortable feeling like tiny sharp points in a body part.

  • My foot is asleep.
  • Her arm fell asleep during the long journey.
  • Both legs were asleep when he finally stood up.

How to use it: a body part falls asleep (My foot fell asleep after I sat on it.)

Similar words: numb

Common phrases: foot is asleep, arm falls asleep, leg is asleep

NOT PAYING ATTENTIONC1

Not paying attention to what is happening.

  • Were you asleep during that discussion?
  • The referee seemed asleep and missed the foul.
  • Officials were asleep at the wheel as the crisis grew.

How to use it: be asleep at the wheel (The managers were asleep at the wheel while costs rose.)

Similar words: inattentive, unaware

Opposites: alert, attentive

Common phrases: asleep at work, asleep at wheel

Questions about asleep

What does asleep mean?

Sleeping rather than awake.

What is asleep in other languages?

Türkçe: uykuda · Español: dormido · Français: endormi · Deutsch: schlafend · Italiano: addormentato · 日本語: 眠っている

How do you pronounce asleep?

It is pronounced /əˈsliːp/.

How do you use asleep in a sentence?

The baby is asleep. I fell asleep during the film.

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Phrases with asleep

asleep in other languages

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