sleep over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sleep over" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to an event where someone stays overnight at another person's home, often for social reasons. Example: "I invited my friend to have a sleep over at my house this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And Sleep Over?

The Guardian - Music

The kids sleep over!

Huffington Post

Clara can sleep over from Thursday.

Huffington Post

You can sleep over at my house".

Huffington Post

To sleep over.

The New York Times

Don't lose sleep over it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Friends loved to sleep over.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'm losing sleep over it".

The New York Times - Arts

"It's what I lose sleep over.

The New York Times

I am actually losing sleep over this.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

THE SLEEP-OVER ARTIST, by Thomas Beller.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sleep over" to casually describe a child or teen staying at a friend's house for the night. It's less formal than "stay overnight".

Common error

Avoid using "sleep over" in formal writing. Opt for "stay overnight" or "spend the night" in professional or academic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sleep over" functions primarily as an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. It describes the act of staying at someone else's home for the night. Ludwig confirms its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sleep over" is an intransitive verb describing the act of staying at someone else's home for the night, usually in an informal context. While grammatically correct, Ludwig identifies it as less formal. More formal settings might prefer "stay overnight". Common usage appears in news and media, while technical writing prefers other terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay the night

Replaces "sleep over" with a more general term for spending the night.

spend the night

Similar to "stay the night", but emphasizes the activity of passing the night.

stay overnight

A more formal way of saying "sleep over".

have a slumber party

Implies a more organized and social event than simply "sleep over".

sleep at their house

Specifies location directly, less idiomatic than "sleep over".

crash at someone's place

An informal way of saying "sleep over", often implying unexpectedness.

have an overnight visit

Focuses on the visiting aspect, with sleeping as part of it.

put up for the night

Implies that someone is providing accommodation.

lodge for the night

A formal way of indicating accommodation for a single night.

bunk down

An informal term for settling in to sleep, especially in a temporary location.

FAQs

How do I use "sleep over" in a sentence?

You can use "sleep over" to describe staying at someone's house for the night. For example, "My daughter is going to "sleep over" at her friend's house tonight".

What can I say instead of "sleep over"?

Alternatives to "sleep over" include "stay overnight", "spend the night", or "have a slumber party", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "sleep over at"?

While it's common to hear "sleep over at", it's generally more grammatically sound to simply say ""sleep over"" without the "at". For example, "I'm going to sleep over his house" is acceptable, but "I'm going to sleep over at his house" is also used.

What's the difference between "sleep over" and "stay overnight"?

"Sleep over" is generally more informal and often used when referring to children or casual situations. "Stay overnight" is a more formal and general term.