drowse

[ drouz ]

verb (used without object)

, drowsed, drows·ing.

1. to be sleepy or half-asleep.
2. to be dull or sluggish.

verb (used with object)

, drowsed, drows·ing.

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

   He drowsed away the morning.

2. to make sleepy.

noun

1. a sleepy condition; state of being half-asleep.

drowse

/ draʊz /

verb

1. to be or cause to be sleepy, dull, or sluggish

noun

1. the state of being drowsy

Word History and Origins

Origin of drowse¹

before 900; Old English drūsian to droop, become sluggish (not recorded in ME); akin to Old English drēosan to fall

Word History and Origins

Origin of drowse¹

C16: probably from Old English drūsian to sink; related to drēosan to fall

Example Sentences

Of the 63 subjects who dropped the glass as they drowsed, 26 did so after they had already passed through N1 sleep.

From Scientific American

Taran drowsed with one hand on the iron brooch, the other grasping his sword.

From Literature

The greyhound lay on its side, drowsing, one chestnut-colored eye only partly closed and rolling grotesquely in the socket.

From Literature

Late one night the drowsing pro got a phone call at home.

From Golf Digest

While summer often wakes me at 4am with dawn, in winter I can sleep for hours, surrendering to my bed shortly after 9pm, and drowsing there until my morning alarm.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• coma
• dormancy
• stupor