doze

¹

[ dohz ]

verb (used without object)

, dozed, doz·ing.

1. to sleep lightly or fitfully.
2. to fall into a light sleep unintentionally (often followed by off ):

   He dozed off during the sermon.

3. to sleep for a short time; nap.
4. to be dull or half asleep.

verb (used with object)

, dozed, doz·ing.

1. to pass or spend (time) in drowsiness (often followed by away ):

   He dozed away the afternoon.

noun

1. a light or fitful sleep; nap.

   Synonyms: forty winks, catnap, siesta, snooze

doze

²

[ dohz ]

verb (used with or without object)

, dozed, doz·ing.

1. Informal. to clear or level with a bulldozer.

doze

/ dəʊz /

verb

1. to sleep lightly or intermittently
2. often foll by off to fall into a light sleep

noun

1. a short sleep

Derived Forms

• ˈdozer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of doze¹

1640–50; originally (now obsolete) to stupefy, make drowsy; compare Scots, N England dialect dozened, Middle English ( Scots ) dosnyt, dosinnit stupefied, dazed; akin to Old Norse dūsa rest, Swedish dialect dusa doze, slumber, Middle Low German dusen to be thoughtless; daze

Origin of doze²

First recorded in 1940–45; shortened form of bulldoze

Word History and Origins

Origin of doze¹

C17: probably from Old Norse dūs lull; related to Danish döse to drowse, Swedish dialect dusa slumber

Example Sentences

Those were the days when jazz would be etched into his subconscious before sunrise — as a 20-something living in Chicago, he’d doze off to late-night music broadcasts on local radio, listening to greats like Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins.

From Los Angeles Times

Those were the days when jazz would be etched into his subconscious before sunrise — as a 20-something living in Chicago, he’d doze off to late-night music broadcasts on local radio, listening to greats like Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins.

From Los Angeles Times

I pulled my cowl over my head to protect it from the easterly sun and soon fell into an irritated doze.

From Literature

Sometimes, I doze right through these sessions.

From Literature

Trump, who has appeared to doze off each day of the trial so far, should consider remaining unconscious, former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance commented on her blog.

From Salon

Related Words

• drift off
• nod off
• snooze