What does "sleepy" mean?
The gum that builds up in the eye; sleep, gound.
Sleepy
/ˈsliːpi/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The gum that builds up in the eye; sleep, gound.
- Grammar: sleepy is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: sleepy-eyed, adrowse, anesthetized, apathetic.
- Useful contrasts: nonsleepy, unsleepy, alert.
- Usage evidence: I think it is good that books still exist, but they do make me sleepy.
How to use "sleepy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sleepy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sleepy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sleepy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sleepy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sleepy" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sleepy-eyed" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sleepy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The gum that builds up in the eye; sleep, gound. in-plural, informal, uncountable
""Did he always leave the sleepy in his eyes?" "Never removed it; let it build up in the comers of his eyes over the weeks until it was heavy enough to fall […]"
- 2 Shingleback. Australia, countable, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Tired; feeling the need for sleep.
"She wak'd her sleepy crew."
- 2 Suggesting tiredness.
"At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth, stepped back from the tree and listened. There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision."
- 3 Tending to induce sleep.
"a sleepy drink or potion"
- 4 Dull; lazy. figuratively
"'Tis not sleepy business; But must be looked to speedily and strongly."
- 5 Quiet; without bustle or activity. figuratively
"a sleepy English village"
Adjective
- 1 ready to fall asleep wordnet
Example
"I think it is good that books still exist, but they do make me sleepy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sleepy"?
Common synonyms include: sleepy-eyed, adrowse, anesthetized, apathetic, asleep, beat.
How do you use "sleepy" in a sentence?
I think it is good that books still exist, but they do make me sleepy.
How do you pronounce "sleepy"?
Pronounced /ˈsliːpi/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *slēpaz Proto-West Germanic *slāp Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Proto-West Germanic *slāpag Old English *slǣpiġ Middle English slepy English sleepy From Middle English slepy, from Old English *slǣpiġ (attested in unslǣpiġ (“sleepless”)), from Proto-West Germanic *slāpag (“sleepy”), equivalent to sleep + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian släipich (“sleepy”), West Frisian sliepich (“sleepy”), dialectal Dutch slapig, slepig (“sleepy”), German Low German slapig, släpig, slöpig (“sleepy”), archaic German schlafig (“sleepy”).