# slept

/ˈsɫɛpt/ (US) · /slˈɛpt/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slept
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the past tense of sleep. You use this to say that you rested your body and mind with your eyes closed.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'sleep'. Refers to the natural state of rest characterized by closed eyes and altered consciousness.

## Examples

- I slept for eight hours last night.
- The baby finally slept through the entire night, giving the parents some much-needed rest.
- Exhausted by the long journey across the continent, the travelers slept soundly in the small inn despite the storm raging outside.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I have sleeped well" but "I have slept well" — Sleep is an irregular verb; the past form and past participle are 'slept', not 'sleeped'.

## Usage notes

- The past tense of 'sleep'; functions as an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object.

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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.