fitful sleep

USAGE SUMMARY

"fitful sleep" is a valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to have inconsistent or interrupted sleep patterns. Example: After a long day at work, I struggled to fall asleep and ended up having a fitful night, waking up multiple times throughout the night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Health

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It disturbed his pained and fitful sleep.

The Guardian

I pondered for hours before falling into a fitful sleep.

The Guardian

Fitful sleep made the nights twice as long.

The Guardian

He wore a wrap overnight, during a fitful sleep, and when he awoke around 10 a.m.

The New York Times

When he returned to the Refuge, he fell into a fitful sleep.

The New Yorker

After fitful sleep, the new day was heralded by an altitude-derived headache.

Independent

A man has been roused from an already fitful sleep by his wife.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lulled into fitful sleep at 4am by variations on the duet La Stessa, la Stessissima.

The Guardian - Music

i sink at last into the poet's short and fitful sleep.

The Guardian - Books

But, she said, there is no escaping the noise and fitful sleep of a dormitory shared with eight other women.

The New York Times

Mohamed Khalib stirred from a fitful sleep following a night shift as a painter in Qatar's ceaseless construction industry.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's emotional state, use "fitful sleep" to subtly convey anxiety, stress, or underlying health issues. For example: "His fitful sleep was a clear sign of the trauma he had endured."

Common error

Avoid using "fitful sleep" as a synonym for insomnia. While both involve sleep disturbances, "fitful sleep" describes the quality of sleep (restless and interrupted), while insomnia is a condition characterized by the inability to fall or stay asleep.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fitful sleep" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, where 'fitful' (adjective) modifies 'sleep' (noun). It describes the quality of sleep, indicating that it is restless, disturbed, or interrupted. Ludwig confirms the proper usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Travel

13%

Health

8%

Less common in

Books

5%

Sport

3%

Music

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fitful sleep" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a restless or disturbed night's sleep. Ludwig confirms its validity. It's often used in news, travel writing, and health-related contexts to convey unease or suggest underlying issues. While synonyms like "restless sleep" or "disturbed sleep" exist, it's important not to confuse "fitful sleep" with insomnia. Using "fitful sleep" adds nuance and depth to descriptions of sleep quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

restless sleep

Emphasizes the lack of stillness and movement during sleep.

interrupted sleep

Highlights the breaks and disruptions occurring during the sleep period.

disturbed sleep

Focuses on the troubled nature of the sleep experience.

broken sleep

Suggests that the sleep is fragmented and not continuous.

uneasy slumber

Indicates a state of discomfort and anxiety affecting sleep.

light sleep

Highlights the shallowness and lack of deep rest.

troubled sleep

Emphasizes the presence of worries or problems affecting sleep quality.

sporadic sleep

Suggests that sleep occurs at irregular intervals.

choppy sleep

Implies a fragmented and uneven quality to sleep.

agitated slumber

Highlights the restlessness and emotional disturbance during sleep.

FAQs

How can I use "fitful sleep" in a sentence?

You can use "fitful sleep" to describe a restless or disturbed night's sleep. For example: "The baby's teething caused her to have a night of "fitful sleep"."

What is a synonym for "fitful sleep"?

Synonyms for "fitful sleep" include "restless sleep", "disturbed sleep", or "interrupted sleep".

What causes "fitful sleep"?

"Fitful sleep" can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, medical conditions, changes in environment, or poor sleep hygiene.

Is "fitful sleep" a sign of a more serious problem?

While occasional "fitful sleep" is common, frequent or chronic disrupted sleep may indicate an underlying issue, such as a sleep disorder, mental health condition, or physical ailment. It's best to consult a doctor if you're experiencing persistent "fitful sleep".