sleepless

UK: ˈsliːpləs | US: ˈsliːpləs

Definition
  1. adj. unable to sleep; experiencing a lack of sleep

  2. adj. (figuratively) constantly active or restless

Structure
sleep <rest state of unconsciousness>less <without>
Etymology

The word "sleepless" combines the Old English root "slēp" (meaning "sleep") with the suffix "-less" (derived from Old English "-lēas," meaning "without"). The suffix "-less" is commonly used to negate the meaning of the root, creating adjectives that describe the absence of something. Over time, "sleepless" evolved to describe both literal insomnia and metaphorical restlessness, reflecting its straightforward morphological logic.

Examples
  1. After drinking too much coffee, she felt sleepless all night.

  2. The city that never sleeps is often called a sleepless metropolis.

  3. His sleepless eyes betrayed his exhaustion.

  4. The baby’s crying left the parents sleepless for weeks.

  5. A sleepless mind often wanders into anxious thoughts.