Standard Lemma guide

sleeplessness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Lack of sleep; the property of being sleepless; the inability to sleep, insomnia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: insomnolence

Antonyms: sleep, sleepiness, somnolence

2

noun

Meaning 2

a temporary state in which you are unable (or unwilling) to sleep

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • accept your wakefulness and sleep in its own contrary way is more likely to come

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wakefulness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: temporary state

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English sleepless Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English sleeplessness From sleepless + -ness.