Synonyms sleep
These words all mean to rest with your eyes closed and your mind and body not active.
sleep to rest with your eyes shut and your mind and body not active:
Did you sleep well?
I couldn’t sleep last night.
It is more usual to say that somebody is asleep than that they are sleeping; but if you use an adverb to say how they are sleeping, use sleeping: ‘What’s Ashley doing?’ ‘Sh! She’s asleep.’ • The baby was sleeping peacefully. • The baby was asleep peacefully.
doze to sleep lightly, waking up easily, often when you are not in bed:
He was dozing in front of the TV.
nap to sleep for a short time, especially during the day.snooze (informal) to sleep lightly for a short time, especially during the day and usually not in bed:
My brother was snoozing on the sofa.
Patterns
to sleep/doze lightly/fitfully
to doze/snooze gently