asleep
Translation
asleep, numb
Examples
The baby is fast asleep.
The baby is fast asleep.
My leg is asleep.
My leg has gone to sleep.
Grammar Patterns
((be)) asleep to be in a state of sleep The cat is asleep on the sofa.
((fall)) asleep to begin sleeping I fell asleep during the movie.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sleeping, dozing, slumbering; Antonyms: awake, conscious
Etymology
From Old English 'on slæpe', meaning 'in a state of sleep'. The 'a-' prefix means 'on' or 'in'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'asleep' as being 'in a state of sleep'. It's a predicative adjective, used after a verb like 'be' or 'fall'.