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asleep

adj.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //əˈsɫip// UK //ɐslˈiːp// asleep General-service Humorous Slang

adj. in a state of sleep. You use this to describe someone who is not awake or a part of your body that feels numb and tingly.

adj. in or into a state of sleep; characterized by a lack of conscious awareness. When applied to a limb, it refers to a temporary loss of sensation caused by pressure on a nerve.


SIMPLE

The baby is finally asleep in her crib.

CONTEXTUAL

I fell asleep on the sofa while watching the movie and woke up with a stiff neck.

COMPLEX

The protagonist remains asleep during the opening scene, a choice that emphasizes his initial passivity before the chaotic events of the plot force him into action.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) + sleep.

Usage

Predicative adjective — it follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'fall' and cannot be used immediately before a noun.

Pitfall

the asleep childthe sleeping childAsleep is a predicative adjective; it cannot be used in the attributive position before a noun.

Idioms5 entries

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