# sleep

/ˈsɫip/ (US) · /slˈiːp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sleep
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. to provide beds for

verb · CEFR B1

to have enough space or beds for a certain number of people.

For teachers: to provide sleeping accommodations for a specific number of people.

- This small holiday cottage can sleep up to six people comfortably.
- The refurbished villa is designed to sleep twelve guests, featuring six en-suite bedrooms and a separate guest wing.

Usage: Transitive; takes the number of people as the direct object.

### 3. to ignore or miss out

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

to fail to notice something important or to ignore a good opportunity.

For teachers: to be inattentive or to underestimate the value of something; often used in the phrase 'sleep on'.

- Don't sleep on this new restaurant; the food is actually amazing.
- Critics warned investors not to sleep on the emerging tech sector, as early adoption could yield significant long-term returns.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'on'.

### 4. the state of resting

noun · CEFR A1

the natural state of rest for your mind and body.

For teachers: the periodic state of physiological rest characterized by closed eyes and altered brain activity.

- You look tired; you probably need to get some sleep.
- Deep sleep is essential for memory consolidation and the physical repair of muscle tissue after strenuous exercise.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general state.

### 5. eye discharge

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

the dry, crusty bits that sometimes form in the corners of your eyes while you rest.

For teachers: the dried mucus or rheum found in the corners of the eyes upon waking.

- He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at the clock.
- The child woke up with a bit of sleep in the corner of his eye, a common occurrence during the dry winter months.

Usage: Uncountable.

### 6. computing mode

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

a setting where a computer stays on but uses very little power.

For teachers: a low-power mode for electronic devices that preserves the current state in RAM while disabling unnecessary components.

- If you don't use the laptop for ten minutes, it goes into sleep.
- Configuring the server to enter sleep during off-peak hours significantly reduced the office's overall energy consumption.

Usage: Often used as 'sleep mode'.

## Examples

- I need to get some sleep before my early flight tomorrow.
- The doctor recommended at least eight hours of sleep to help the patient recover from the flu.
- While scientists still debate the precise evolutionary purpose of dreaming, the physiological necessity of deep sleep for cognitive maintenance remains undisputed across the medical community.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.