Sleep vs. Wait — What's the Difference?

A condition essential for the body’s recuperation and the consolidation of memory.

To remain in a state of repose or readiness until a certain event occurs.

A recurring, reversible condition marked by reduced muscle activity and metabolism.

To postpone or delay in expectation.

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, but more reactive than a coma or disorders of consciousness, with sleep displaying different, active brain patterns.

Stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event

A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli. During sleep the brain in humans and other mammals undergoes a characteristic cycle of brain-wave activity that includes intervals of dreaming.

Used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen

A period of this form of rest.

Act as a waiter or waitress, serving food and drink

A state of inactivity resembling or suggesting sleep; unconsciousness, dormancy, hibernation, or death.

A period of waiting

A state in which a computer shuts off or reduces power to its peripherals (such as the display or memory) in order to save energy during periods of inactivity.

Street singers of Christmas carols.

(Botany) The folding together of leaflets or petals at night or in the absence of light.

To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)

A crust of dried tears or mucus normally forming around the inner rim of the eye during sleep.

(intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

To be in the state of sleep or to fall asleep.

To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.

To be in a condition resembling sleep.

To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.

To pass or get rid of by sleeping

(obsolete) To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.

To provide sleeping accommodations for

To defer or postpone (especially a meal).

(intransitive) To rest in a state of reduced consciousness.

(intransitive) To remain faithful to one’s partner or betrothed during a prolonged period of absence.

(transitive) To be slumbering in (a state).

A delay.

To achieve or make happen by manner of sleep.

An ambush.

To have sexual intercourse (see sleep with).

(computing) wait state

(idiomatic) To earn by sexual favors.

(obsolete) One who watches; a watchman.

(transitive) To accommodate in beds.

Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.

(intransitive) To be careless, inattentive, or unconcerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly.

Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]

(intransitive) To be dead; to lie in the grave.

(informal) Tells the other speaker to stop talking, typing etc. for a moment.

(intransitive) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant.

To watch; to observe; to take notice.

To wait for a period of time without performing any action.

To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart.

To place into a state of hibernation.

To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.

To spin on its axis with no other perceptible motion.

To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany; to await.

To cause (a spinning top or yo-yo) to spin on its axis with no other perceptible motion.

To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.

(uncountable) The state of reduced consciousness during which a human or animal rests in a daily rhythm.

To cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; - said of a meal; as, to wait dinner.

An act or instance of sleeping.

The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.

A night.

Ambush.

(uncountable) Rheum, crusty or gummy discharge found in the corner of the eyes after waking, whether real or a figurative objectification of sleep (in the sense of reduced consciousness).

One who watches; a watchman.

A state of plants, usually at night, when their leaflets approach each other and the flowers close and droop, or are covered by the folded leaves.

Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular.

The hibernation of animals.

Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen.

To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber.

Time during which some action is awaited;

To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly.

The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something);

To be dead; to lie in the grave.

Stay in one place and anticipate or expect something;

To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps.

Wait before acting

To be slumbering in; - followed by a cognate object; as, to sleep a dreamless sleep.

Look forward to the probable occurrence of;

To give sleep to; to furnish with accomodations for sleeping; to lodge.

Serve as a waiter in a restaurant;

A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas, and a loss of mental control, followed by a more or less unconscious state.

To delay action until the arrival or occurrence of something.

A natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended;

To stay in a place until a particular time or occurrence.

A torpid state resembling sleep

To be in expectation or anticipation.

A period of time spent sleeping;

Euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb);

Be asleep

Be able to accommodate for sleeping;

A natural state of rest characterized by altered consciousness and sensory activity.

A periodic state of physical and mental dormancy in which a person is relatively inactive and unaware of the environment.

A phenomenon occurring in cycles, governed by the body’s internal biological clock.

Absolutely, both inadequate and excessive sleep can impact overall health and well-being.

Yes, waiting typically requires a level of consciousness and awareness.

Yes, sleep is crucial for cognitive function and memory consolidation.

Typically, waiting is associated with anticipation or expectation of a future event.

Absolutely, deep sleep is vital for bodily repair and restoration.

Certainly, waiting often symbolizes hope and expectation for the future.

Yes, prolonged lack of sleep can lead to various physical and mental health issues.

Waiting can be both passive and active, depending on the context and individual perspective.

Yes, waiting can often invoke feelings of frustration, especially if the delay is unexpected or prolonged.

Yes, adequate sleep is crucial for maintaining emotional balance and mental health.

While the majority of animal species exhibit some form of sleep or rest, the specifics can vary widely between species.

Yes, waiting can be productive if utilized for thoughtful reflection, planning, or other constructive activities.

Absolutely, regular and adequate sleep plays a pivotal role in learning and memory consolidation.

Definitely, the quality of sleep is crucial in determining its restorative and recuperative effects.

Yes, waiting can symbolize preparation and readiness for forthcoming events or opportunities.