Word
sleepless
Phoneticssleep·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɫipɫəs/
UK/slˈiːpləs/
Definition
adj. unable to sleep or happening during a time when you cannot sleep. You use this to describe a night when you stay awake or a person who is very tired.
adj. characterised by a lack of sleep; unable to rest or find slumber. Often used to describe a period of time or the state of a person.
Examples
“She spent a sleepless night worrying about her exam.”
“After three sleepless nights with the newborn, the parents were struggling to stay focused during the day.”
“The protagonist's sleepless vigil by the window serves as a recurring motif, highlighting his growing anxiety and inability to find peace in his new surroundings.”
Examples
simple
“She spent a sleepless night worrying about her exam.”
contextual
“After three sleepless nights with the newborn, the parents were struggling to stay focused during the day.”
complex
“The protagonist's sleepless vigil by the window serves as a recurring motif, highlighting his growing anxiety and inability to find peace in his new surroundings.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'remain' or 'be'.
Real-World Examples
“I had sleepless nights thinking if I go back to India, my life will change.” Etymology
From Middle English slepeles, from Old English slǣplēas; equivalent to sleep + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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