Lesson 6A · New English File Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

to unexpectedly open one's mouth wide and deeply breathe in because of being bored or tired

"He will yawn now."

"During the long and monotonous presentation, several audience members couldn't help but yawn from sheer boredom."

a short period of sleep, typically taken during the day to refresh or rest

"I took a short nap after lunch."

"A brief afternoon nap can significantly enhance cognitive performance and alertness."

feeling the need or desire to sleep

"I feel sleepy."

"I feel sleepy and could barely keep my eyes open during the long and boring lecture."

to breathe through one's nose and mouth in a noisy way while asleep

"Some people snore loudly at night."

"His wife could not sleep because he snores so loudly that the sound echoes through the entire house every night."

a large, thin, and rectangular piece of cloth that is spread on a bed to lie under or on top of it

"The sheet is made of 100 percent cotton."

"The flat sheet was tucked tightly over the mattress corners while the fitted sheet had elastic edges."

a cover for one's bed that is made of two layers of cloth and is filled with feathers, cotton, or other soft materials

"The duvet is too warm for summer nights."

"The duvet is too warm for summer nights so they switch to a lighter blanket in June."

a disorder in which one is unable to sleep or stay asleep

"Insomnia kept him awake all night."

"Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a structured program that helps identify and replace thoughts and behaviors that cause or worsen chronic sleep problems."

a medication taken to induce sleep or relieve insomnia

"The sleeping pill knocks him out."

"A sleeping pill is a medication that helps people fall or stay asleep."

someone whose sleep is easily disturbed

"The light sleeper wakes up at any small noise."

"The light sleeper wakes up at any small noise and cannot fall back asleep easily."

to no longer be awake, and so, be sleeping

"I fell asleep very quickly."

"She was so exhausted after work that she fell asleep on the couch before dinner."

very deep in sleep and difficult to be woken up

"The baby is fast asleep."

"The baby was fast asleep in his crib and did not wake up even when the dog started barking loudly."

to wake up later than one intended to

"He oversleeps and misses his flight."

"I overslept this morning and missed the bus, so I had to take a taxi to work."

to sleep in a way that one cannot be easily woken up

"I slept like a dog."

"After hiking all day in the mountains, I slept like a dog and didn't wake up until morning."

to walk or do other actions while one is sleeping

"He sleepwalks during the night."

"The young boy has a tendency to sleepwalk at night and his parents often find him in strange places around the house."

not in a state of sleep or unconsciousness

"I am still awake."

"The coffee helped her stay awake during the long drive and she arrived at her destination safely without falling asleep at the wheel."

to rest our mind and body, with our eyes closed

"Babies sleep for many hours."

"Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to function properly and maintain good health."

a large piece of fabric made of wool, cotton, or other materials that is used to keep warm or to provide comfort, used on beds, sofas, chairs, etc.

"The wool blanket is very warm."

"The wool blanket was heavy and warm but scratchy against bare skin without a sheet layer."

a cloth bag stuffed with soft materials that we put our head on when we are lying or sleeping

"I need a pillow to sleep."

"The pillow felt soft and comfortable all night."

a very scary, unpleasant, or disturbing dream

"The nightmare was awful."

"The nightmare woke him up in the middle of the night."

to adjust something to be in a suitable or desired condition for a specific purpose or use

"She sets the table for dinner."

"You need to set the table before the guests arrive for dinner tonight."

a clock that makes a sound at a set time, used to wake up someone

"The alarm clock rings at 6 AM."

"The alarm clock rings at six AM and he hits the snooze button twice before getting up."