sleeping giant

noun

: one that has great but unrealized or newly emerging power

Examples of sleeping giant in a Sentence

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 chap who revitalised a perennially underachieving sleeping giant and gave the fans some of the happiest days of their Forest-supporting lives? Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 May 2026 Meanwhile, the sleeping giant that broke up their dominance by lifting the domestic championship in 2021 - Atlético Mineiro, referred to fondly as O Galo (The Rooster) - is plotting its return to the top. Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026 The exchange highlighted a sleeping giant of an issue — and one that lawmakers are often reluctant to talk about. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 Indiana was always a sleeping giant in college football. Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleeping giant

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleeping giant was in 1970

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleeping giant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeping%20giant. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster