title: calling Thread.sleep() from synchronized context in Java
body: <p>I have read that <code>Thread.sleep()</code> will pause the currently running thread for the time specified after which it goes back to runnable state waiting for it's turn to run.</p>
  
  <p>Also, if called from <code>synchronized</code> context, <code>sleep()</code> doesn't release the lock it holds. So I was wondering when it will release the lock. If the thread, put on sleep, never gets the chance to run so it will always keep the lock with itself and then how other threads get to enter synchronized methods/block.</p>
  
  <p>I am not sure if I am asking valid question. But please help me out.</p>