fall asleep

English

Verb

fall asleep (third-person singular simple present

falls asleep, present participle

falling asleep, simple past

fell asleep, past participle fallen asleep)

1. To pass from a state of wakefulness into sleep. quotations ▼
2. (idiomatic, figurative) To be affected by paresthesia; to go numb.

My left leg has fallen asleep!

3. (poetic, euphemistic) To die (often seen on gravestones). quotations ▼

Synonyms

• (pass from a state of wakefulness into sleep): drift off, drop off, go to sleep, nod off; See Thesaurus:fall asleep
• (poetic, euphemistic: to die): pass, pass away, pass over

Antonyms

• (pass from a state of wakefulness into sleep): awake, awaken, wake, wake up

Derived terms

• fall asleep in the Lord

Translations

show ▼±to pass into sleep

show ▼±to be affected by paresthesia

show ▼±euphemism for "to die"

See also

• put to sleep