asleep

/əˈsliːp/

//əˈsliːp// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"asleep" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“asleep” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,860 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#3,860
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

asleep vs Aileen
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for asleep
PropertyValue
Headwordasleep
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/əˈsliːp/
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,860
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “asleep” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). asleep lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for asleep is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈsliːp/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,860 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for asleep, with forms such as "alseep", "aselep", and "asleepp". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "Aileen", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) + sleep. The correct English form is asleep, spelled A-S-L-E-E-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting.
  2. 2
    Inattentive.
  3. 3
    Having a numb or prickling sensation accompanied by a degree of unresponsiveness.
  4. 4
    Dead.

Etymology

From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) + sleep.

Synonyms

asleepcoldcomatosedead to the worlddormantdown for the countin the arms of Morpheusin the arms of Murphynangryout coldout like a lightsacked outsleepboundsleepingsomnambularunawakeningunawakingunwaking

Antonyms

awake

This word in other languages

dormido(Español)endormi(Français)schlafend(Deutsch)dormente(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alseep,aselep,asleepp,aslep,aslepe,aslleep,assleep,saleep

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of asleep - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

alseep2aselep2asleepp1aslep1aslepe2aslleep1assleep1saleep2
Edit distance from "asleep"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "asleep"?
"asleep" is spelled A-S-L-E-E-P. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈsliːp/.
What does "asleep" mean?
As an adjective, "asleep" means: In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting.
What words are commonly confused with "asleep"?
"asleep" is commonly confused with "Aileen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "asleep"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "asleep" is /əˈsliːp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "asleep"?
From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) + sleep. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “asleep”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-S-L-E-E-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈsliːp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Aileen” - see the side-by-side comparison. asleep vs Aileen
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list