26984 words

sleeper

10 definitions • 7 examples
1
someone who sleeps in the stated way:

Examples:

I'm a light sleeper - the slightest noise wakes me.
2
a carriage in a train with beds for passengers to sleep in, or one of the beds in this carriage, or the type of train that has these carriages:

Examples:

I'm travelling overnight so I've reserved a sleeper.
The 11.45 to Venice is a sleeper.
4
a small gold or silver ring that is worn in a pierced ear (= one that has a hole in it) to stop the hole from closing while other earrings are not being worn
5
a person or thing that is suddenly and surprisingly successful after a long period of not achieving anything
6
a spy who only becomes active a long time after being put in place by an organization or country
7
a piece of clothing for a baby that covers the whole body, worn especially at night
8
a sleeping person:

Examples:

He is a very light sleeper (= he wakes easily).
9
A sleeper is also a person or thing that is unexpectedly successful:

Examples:

We almost gave up on this line of merchandise, but it's a real sleeper – it keeps selling.
10
a product, film, book, etc. that becomes a sudden success, after a period of not being successful at all:

Examples:

The movie cost only $400,000 to make, and then blew up into a $39 million sleeper.
Her book has been the big sleeper hit of the literary scene.

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