doze

¹

[dohz]

verb (used without object)

dozed, dozing 

1. to sleep lightly or fitfully.

2. to fall into a light sleep unintentionally (often followed byoff ).

   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, dozing 

1. to pass or spend (time) in drowsiness (often followed byaway ).

   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, dozing 

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

Other Word Forms

• dozer 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

Through the night, several of them allegedly followed the southbound Brink’s truck, which was piloted by one driver while another dozed in the vehicle’s sleeping compartment.

From Los Angeles Times

When she did doze off, Dame Jacqueline said she wanted to sleep too but used the short window available to write.

From BBC

Sloths have a reputation for being sluggish and slow, spending most of their lives dozing in trees, but a new study suggests this is one of the enduring secrets of their success.

From BBC

Despite some low marks in her final years of high school, she’s unworried and unhurried, content to spend her days gazing at the water or dozing on the beach.

From Salon

He claimed Ms Thomas had started watching the erotic film 50 Shades of Grey in the living room whilst he went to the bedroom and dozed.

From BBC

Related Words

• drift off www.thesaurus.com
• nod off 
• snooze