rapid eye movement

noun

: a rapid conjugate movement of the eyes associated especially with REM sleep

Examples of rapid eye movement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The device detected when the participants entered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (so named because the eyes dart from side to side during this phase), when people experience their most vivid dreams. Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 For example, terrestrial vertebrates, and possibly even spiders, experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2024 Enlarge Imagen Rafael Cosme Daza Most creatures sleep, but until now, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the phase of sleep in which dreams occur, was thought to be exclusive to vertebrates. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 6 July 2023 One cycle comprises of non-REM phases (which encompass drifting off to deep sleep) followed by the REM, or rapid eye movement, phase. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023 During a typical night, a person goes through four stages of sleep: stage 1 (initially falling asleep), stage 2 (light sleep), stage 3 (deep sleep, or slow-wave sleep), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when the brain is particularly active. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 7 Nov. 2023 The Department of Defense wants to see if anyone out there can control rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023 Sleep research has since proven that lucid dreaming occurs exclusively during rapid eye movement or REM sleep. USA TODAY, 11 July 2023 The constant interruption makes if difficult to get enough deep sleep and progress onto the final stage, called rapid eye movement or REM sleep, where dreams occur. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rapid eye movement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapid eye movement was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near rapid eye movement

Cite this Entry

“Rapid eye movement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapid%20eye%20movement. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rapid eye movement

noun
: rapid movement of the eyes which occurs during the dreaming period of sleep

Medical Definition

rapid eye movement

noun
rap·​id eye movement ˈrap-əd- How to pronounce rapid eye movement (audio)
: a rapid conjugate movement of the eyes associated especially with REM sleep

called also REM

More from Merriam-Webster on rapid eye movement

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