Asleep and Sleeping

Asleep

Asleep adjective - Being in a state of suspended consciousness.
Usage example: was sound asleep when the earthquake struck

Sleeping is a synonym for asleep in awareness topic. In some cases you can use "Sleeping" instead the word "Asleep" as an adjective or an adverb, when it comes to topics like unconscious. popular alternative

Sleeping

Sleeping adjective - Being in a state of suspended consciousness.
Usage example: a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center

Asleep is a synonym for sleeping in awareness topic. You can use "Asleep" instead an adjective "Sleeping", if it concerns topics such as dormant. popular alternative

Nearby Words: sleep, sleepy, sleeper, sleepless

Both words in one sentence

  • He finds Haruhi asleep in a sleeping bag next to his bed, having insisted on staying by his side the entire time.
  • Fan Fic / Gensokyo 20XX In chapter 46, when Reimu thinks a sleeping Chen won't wake up, after she falls asleep, she wakes her up, only because she doesn't want her to fall asleep and never wakes up.
  • Videogame / Toadette Strikes Sleepy Head: Bob-Belle is notable for being fast asleep nearly everywhere you find her, despite the fact the sleeping curse only affects Toads.
Cite this Source
Sleeping and Asleep. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/asleep/sleeping
Asleep & Sleeping. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/asleep/sleeping>.
Sleeping or Asleep. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/asleep/sleeping.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "asleep" and "sleeping" have occurred on timeline