oversleep

verb

over·​sleep ˌō-vər-ˈslēp How to pronounce oversleep (audio)
overslept ˌō-vər-ˈslept How to pronounce oversleep (audio) ; oversleeping

intransitive verb

: to sleep beyond the time for waking

transitive verb

: to allow (oneself) to oversleep

Examples of oversleep in a Sentence

Be sure to set your alarm clock so that you don't oversleep.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Season 3 penultimate and finale episodes ‘Getting There’ and ‘Jews on a Plane’ aired on Comedy Central in 2016, the first half featuring the duo in a rush to get to the airport after oversleeping, forgetting a passport and getting stuck in the subway. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024 During the last annular solar eclipse in October, Jonah Branch accidentally overslept and missed the 'ring of fire' celestial event. Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024 While the teenager had overslept, their school had gone into lockdown. Nouran Salahieh, Michelle Krupa and Nicole Chavez, CNN, 5 Sep. 2024 Research has also shown that SAD can severely affect sleep, including a tendency to oversleep or sleep fewer hours a night, and this could affect one’s quality of life. Sophie Okolo, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Ellen matured into one of the institute’s most awful therapists, at one point urging a teen-ager who had overslept her alarm to kill herself. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 14 June 2023 One team member had overslept and would play from home. Hisako Ueno, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2023 Quick had a bad habit of oversleeping and being late for minor league bus trips. Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023 Never oversleep your flight! The Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of oversleep was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near oversleep

Cite this Entry

“Oversleep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversleep. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

oversleep

verb
over·​sleep ˌō-vər-ˈslēp How to pronounce oversleep (audio)
overslept -ˈslept How to pronounce oversleep (audio) ; oversleeping
: to sleep beyond the usual time or beyond the time set for getting up
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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