sleepwalker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral, technical (medical/psychological)
Quick answer
What does “sleepwalker” mean?
A person who walks or performs other actions while asleep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who walks or performs other actions while asleep.
A person who is unaware of their surroundings or acts without conscious thought; someone who navigates a situation in a detached or automatic manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The medical condition is more formally called 'somnambulism' in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral for the literal meaning; slightly poetic or critical for the metaphorical meaning.
Frequency
Equally uncommon in everyday conversation in both varieties, reserved for specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sleepwalker” in a Sentence
[sleepwalker] + verb (e.g., The sleepwalker wandered.)[adjective] + sleepwalker (e.g., a chronic sleepwalker)verb + [sleepwalker] (e.g., to restrain a sleepwalker)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleepwalker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Does he often sleepwalk?
- She was known to sleepwalk as a child.
American English
- He tends to sleepwalk when he's stressed.
- I've never sleepwalked in my life.
adjective
British English
- The consultant gave a rather sleepwalking performance during the lecture.
American English
- The team played with a sleepwalking intensity in the first half.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The new CEO navigated the merger like a sleepwalker, unaware of staff morale.'
Academic
Used in psychology and medical texts discussing sleep disorders.
Everyday
Used when discussing unusual personal habits or family anecdotes about sleep.
Technical
Standard term in sleep medicine for a person with somnambulism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sleepwalker”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sleepwalker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleepwalker”
- Using 'sleepwalker' to mean a person who sleeps a lot (that is a 'heavy sleeper').
- Misspelling as two words: 'sleep walker'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be disorienting and distressing for the sleepwalker, but it is not physically dangerous. Gently guiding them back to bed is often recommended.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Somnambulist' is the formal, technical term derived from Latin, while 'sleepwalker' is the everyday English compound word.
The verb form is 'to sleepwalk'. 'Sleepwalker' is only a noun.
It is more common in children, but it can occur in adults, often triggered by stress, sleep deprivation, or certain medical conditions.
A person who walks or performs other actions while asleep.
Sleepwalker is usually neutral, technical (medical/psychological) in register.
Sleepwalker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsliːpˌwɔː.kər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslipˌwɔː.kɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a sleepwalker (to describe moving automatically or without awareness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SLEEP + WALKER: Imagine someone literally walking in their sleep.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNCONSCIOUSNESS IS SLEEP / MINDLESS ACTION IS SLEEPWALKING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, non-metaphorical meaning of 'sleepwalker'?