1
: one that sleeps
2
: a piece of timber, stone, or steel on or near the ground to support a superstructure, keep railroad rails in place, or receive floor joists : stringpiece
3
4
: someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value
the low-budget film became the summer's sleeper
5
: children's pajamas usually with feet
—usually used in plural
6
chiefly British
: a small earring or stud worn to keep the hole of a pierced ear from closing
Examples of sleeper in a Sentence
Sleepers were awakened by the sound of a loud crash.
He may turn out to be the sleeper in this year's election.
The movie was the summer's sleeper.
The movie became the sleeper hit of the summer.
Recent Examples on the Web
These beds are ideal for sleepers who can’t seem to get comfortable with a traditional innerspring mattress or bouncy foam bed.
—
Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025
Once a sleeper hit on shelves, Weller 107 is now a unicorn bottle.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Nylon and lyocell are moisture-wicking, which can be a godsend for sweaty sleepers.
—Jamie Ballard, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
Trachtenberg has become the driving creative mind in the Predator universe today after helming Prey, the 2022 sleeper hit for Hulu that starred Amber Midthunder as an 18th century Comanche woman who comes face-to-face with a Predator.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleeper
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Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2025
Once a sleeper hit on shelves, Weller 107 is now a unicorn bottle.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Nylon and lyocell are moisture-wicking, which can be a godsend for sweaty sleepers.
—Jamie Ballard, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
Trachtenberg has become the driving creative mind in the Predator universe today after helming Prey, the 2022 sleeper hit for Hulu that starred Amber Midthunder as an 18th century Comanche woman who comes face-to-face with a Predator.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleeper
Cite this Entry
“Sleeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeper. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sleeper
noun
sleep·er
ˈslē-pər 
1
: one that sleeps
2
: a horizontal beam to support something on or near ground level
3
4
: someone or something considered unlikely to succeed that suddenly becomes successful
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