Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

fall asleep

/fɔːl əˈsliːp/
phrasal verb★Beginner— to become unconscious and enter sleep◆phrasal verb
informal

to become unconscious and enter sleep

The baby fell asleep in the stroller.

The baby became unconscious and entered sleep in the stroller.

I always fall asleep quickly after a long day.

I always become unconscious and enter sleep quickly after a long day.

💡

This phrasal verb is commonly used in everyday language to describe the process of transitioning from wakefulness to sleep.

Collocations

fall asleep quicklyto become unconscious and enter sleep rapidlyfall asleep easilyto become unconscious and enter sleep without difficulty

Synonyms

doze offdrift offnod off

Antonyms

wake upstay awake

Related Phrases

fall asleep on the jobidiom
to fall asleep while at work
fall asleep at the wheelidiom
to fall asleep while driving

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

This phrasal verb is commonly used in everyday language to describe the process of falling asleep.

⚡Gold Rule

Correct Usage

Use 'fall asleep' to describe the process of entering sleep, not the state of being asleep.

📖Word Origin

The verb 'fall' in this context means to transition into a state, and 'asleep' describes the state of being unconscious due to sleep. The combination 'fall asleep' is a common phrasal verb in English.

📝Usage Notes

This phrasal verb is often used in informal contexts to describe the natural process of entering sleep. It can be used in both present and past tense.

Word Breakdown

fall
to transition into a state
verb
+
asleep
in a state of unconsciousness due to sleep
adjective
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.