sleepy
adjective
ˈslē-pē 
sleepier; sleepiest
1
a
: ready to fall asleep
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep
2
: sluggish as if from sleep : lethargic
also : having little activity
a sleepy coastal village
3
: sleep-inducing
sleepily
ˈslē-pə-lē
adverb sleepiness
ˈslē-pē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- dozy
- drowsy
- slumberous
- slumbrous
- somnolent
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She felt sleepy and went to bed. the sleepy children were carried up to bed
Recent Examples on the Web The hardcore punk rock scene and a sleepy provincial town may seem like unlikely — and distinctly unfriendly — bedfellows. 
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 Yuliia Serdiuk, 31, was severely injured in shelling weeks ago in her hometown, Orikhiv, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, when the once sleepy town found itself on the front line as Ukrainian forces tried to push back Russian troops. Megan Specia, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Best friends Sam and Jade solve supernatural mysteries in their sleepy California beach town. Rodney Ho, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 The murder took place in broad daylight in Katzrin, a sleepy town in northern Israel. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 In the third book, Sacramento prosecutor Brie Sheridan finds refuge in this sleepy town after a near-death experience on the job. Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 20 July 2022 The next stop was a cheese shop that her grandmother had loved, in the sleepy border town of San Elizario. Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 In 1998, Chanel descended upon the sleepy town of Gaujacq, in the southwest corner of France, a region where founder Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia, is grown. Jessica Matlin, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 June 2022 He was assigned to make deliveries and staff a checkpoint in the relative safety of his sleepy village. New York Times, 2 July 2022 See More
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 Yuliia Serdiuk, 31, was severely injured in shelling weeks ago in her hometown, Orikhiv, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, when the once sleepy town found itself on the front line as Ukrainian forces tried to push back Russian troops. Megan Specia, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Best friends Sam and Jade solve supernatural mysteries in their sleepy California beach town. Rodney Ho, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 The murder took place in broad daylight in Katzrin, a sleepy town in northern Israel. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 In the third book, Sacramento prosecutor Brie Sheridan finds refuge in this sleepy town after a near-death experience on the job. Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 20 July 2022 The next stop was a cheese shop that her grandmother had loved, in the sleepy border town of San Elizario. Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 In 1998, Chanel descended upon the sleepy town of Gaujacq, in the southwest corner of France, a region where founder Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia, is grown. Jessica Matlin, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 June 2022 He was assigned to make deliveries and staff a checkpoint in the relative safety of his sleepy village. New York Times, 2 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
sleepy
adjective
ˈslē-pē
sleepier; sleepiest
1
: ready to fall asleep : drowsy
2
: not active, noisy, or busy
a sleepy town
Medical Definition
sleepy
adjective
ˈslē-pē
sleepier; sleepiest
: ready to fall asleep
sleepy
adjective
1
as in sleeping
desiring or needing sleep the sleepy children were carried up to bed Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sleeping
- resting
- drowsy
- dozy
- somnolent
- asleep
- slumberous
- slumbrous
- dozing
- slumbering
- dormant
- nodding
- yawning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- awake
- wakeful
- restless
- conscious
- sleepless
- alert
- wide-awake
- restive
- insomniac
2
as in dull
slow to move or act a sleepy little town on the coast Synonyms & Similar Words
- dull
- lazy
- lethargic
- motionless
- resting
- sluggish
- asleep
- torpid
- drugged
- quiescent
- inactive
- inert
- dormant
- listless
- still
- drowsy
- static
- apathetic
- indolent
- dead
- shiftless
- languorous
- slothful
- sedentary
- dopey
- sluggard
- slack
- ambitionless
- comatose
- lazyish
- inanimate
- catatonic
- sluggardly
- somnambulant
- dopy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- active
- busy
- engaged
- occupied
- energetic
- working
- spirited
- dynamic
- lively
- vivacious
- vigorous
- perky
- animated
- sprightly
- kinetic
- vital
- industrious
- peppy
- hardworking
- bouncing
- diligent
- assiduous
- zippy
- springy
- sedulous
3
as in hypnotic
tending to cause sleep the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge Synonyms & Similar Words
- hypnotic
- drowsy
- soporific
- somnolent
- soothing
- opiate
- slumbrous
- slumberous
- narcotic
- hypnotizing
- quieting
- relaxing
- sedative
- depressant
- dulling
- somniferous
- comforting
- restful
- calming
- relaxant
- tranquillizing
- settling
- tranquilizing
- lulling
- anesthetic
- benumbing
- analgesic
- deadening
- mesmerizing
- anesthetizing
- pacifying
- stupefying
- numbing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stimulant
- waking
- stimulating
- rousing
- energizing
- arousing
- refreshing
- awakening
- wakening
- reviving
- bracing
- invigorating
- restorative
- stimulative
- stimulatory
4
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with Synonyms & Similar Words
- slow
- comatose
- dead
- vacant
- idle
- sluggish
- lethargic
- dormant
- torpid
- inactive
- off
- inert
- fallow
- latent
- free
- inoperative
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- busy
- bustling
- vibrant
- lively
- humming
- thriving
- buzzing
- alive
- animated
- flourishing
- astir
- teeming
- swarming
- overflowing
- thronging
- abounding