Synonyms for "sleep"

11 kid-friendly synonyms for sleep, sorted by grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8).

What does "sleep" mean?

The word sleep is a verb that means: to close your eyes and rest your body at night.

Example: "I sleep at night."

Grade K–2Easy synonyms for sleep

Younger kids can use these in place of "sleep":

Grade 3–5Stronger words for sleep

For elementary writers ready to add precision and variety to their vocabulary:

Grade 6–8Middle-school vocabulary for sleep

Tier 2 academic alternatives — useful for essays, persuasive writing, and standardized tests:

Opposites of sleep (antonyms)

Words that mean the opposite of sleep:

See the full sleep antonyms page →

FAQ — synonyms for sleep

What is a good synonym for sleep in a kid's writing?
For K-2 writers, try rest. For older students, "doze" reads more naturally in school writing.
How many synonyms does sleep have?
We list 11 grade-appropriate synonyms for sleep across three reading levels. Adults' thesauruses include dozens more, but most aren't useful for K-8 vocabulary.
Is sleep a noun, verb, or adjective?
In this entry, sleep is used as a verb.

🦒 Try the live tool

Look up another word in the Synonym Finder.

Open Synonym Finder for sleep →

Related tools for sleep