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Asleep vs Sleepy - What's the difference?

asleep | sleepy |

As adjectives the difference between asleep and sleepy

is that asleep is in a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting while sleepy is tired; feeling the need for sleep.

As a noun sleepy is

the gum that builds up in the eye.

asleep

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting.
    • I was asleep when you called.
    Never disturb a man asleep .
  • (slang) Inattentive.
    • How could you miss that? Were you asleep ?
  • (of a body part) Having a numb or prickling sensation accompanied by a degree of unresponsiveness.
    • My arm fell asleep . You know, like pins and needles.
  • * 2003 , Norma L. Bronoski, Nuns Don't Dance ,
    • Louisa sat in the car crying, until her foot fell asleep . She shook her foot violently, afraid the numbness would turn to frostbite.
  • (euphemistic) dead

    • Usage notes

    * Not used in attributive position.

    Synonyms

    * dormant

    Antonyms

    * awake

    Related terms

    * asleep at the switch

    See also

    * pins and needles

    Anagrams

    *

    sleepy

    English

    (wikipedia sleepy)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Tired; feeling the need for sleep.
  • * Dryden
    • She wak'd her sleepy crew.
  • Suggesting tiredness.
  • * 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) Chapter 2
    • 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 decorationsas the tree had recovered from the collision.
  • Tending to induce sleep; soporific.
    • a sleepy drink or potion
  • Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish.
  • * William Shakespeare
    • 'Tis not sleepy business; / But must be looked to speedily and strongly.
  • Quiet; without bustle or activity.
    • a sleepy English village

    Synonyms

    * tired * See also

    Noun

    (-)
  • (informal) The gum that builds up in the eye
  • * 1964 , Ken Kesey, Sometimes a great notion
    • "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...
  • * 1991 , Martin Amis, London fields
    • But the nightdress was heavy, the sleepy in her eyes was heavy, her hair (she made a mustache of one of its locks) was heavy and smelled of cigarettes...