Word Finder
What's the word for a person who walks at night or sleepwalks?
The word you're looking for
A somnambulist is a person who sleepwalks. It is the most exact word for someone who walks while asleep, not just someone who walks at night.
Other words that fit
Use this in everyday English. It is more common than somnambulist and means the same thing.
Use this for a person who walks at night, especially in a literary or rare style.
Use this for someone who walks at night, but it is less precise and can sound old-fashioned.
Why this word
If you mean a person who walks while asleep, the best word is somnambulist. This is a formal and slightly old-fashioned word, so many people use sleepwalker instead. If you mean someone who walks around at night, nightwalker is possible, but it does not always mean sleepwalking. Noctambulist is rare and mostly appears in literary writing.
In context
- The doctor said he was a somnambulist.
- A somnambulist may not remember the walk.
- Sleepwalking is another word for somnambulist behavior.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is somnambulist a common word?
- No. It is correct, but sleepwalker is much more common in daily English.
- Does nightwalker mean sleepwalker?
- Not usually. Nightwalker means someone who walks at night, not necessarily while asleep.
- What is the verb for this action?
- The verb is somnambulate, but it is very rare. Most people say sleepwalk.