doze

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈdōz 

dozed; dozing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to sleep lightly

b

: to fall into a light sleep

—usually used with off

2

: to be in a dull or stupefied condition

transitive verb

: to pass (time) drowsily

doze noun

doze

2 of 2

verb (2)

dozed; dozing

transitive verb

: bulldoze sense 2

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• catnap
• nap
• rest
• sleep
• slumber
• snooze

Examples of doze in a Sentence

Verb (1)

likes to doze through those lazy summer afternoons

she dozed fitfully in the car but never fell completely asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Shelter dog Teddy recently went viral when TikTok user Brittany Fleming posted a short clip of the dozing dog to her account, @brittanyfleming9, on November 29. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

For no particular reason his half-closed eyes would suddenly open like those of a dozing lizard. —Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024

By late afternoon, Fernandez is dozing in his chair, mouth agape, hands clasped in his lap. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Captain Son Heung-min, deputising for Dominic Solanke as the striker, doubled the lead 11 minutes later by dispossessing the dozing Jordan Pickford and stroking home inside the box. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse dūsa to doze

Verb (2)

probably back-formation from dozer (bulldozer)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1677, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1945, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing doze

• doze off

Kids Definition

doze

verb

ˈdōz

dozed; dozing

: to sleep lightly

doze noun

dozer noun