doze

1 of 2

verb (1)

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
All-Star Game and a cute shot of Dunne dozing in the backseat of a car with their puppy Roux. Natasha Dye, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 As the name suggests, those kinds of power naps are reminiscent of the ways our feline friends seem to laze and doze their entire days away. Discover Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024 Get Citation Request Reprint Permissions The Chinese Communist Party’s National Congress, which is held every five years, was once considered a dull affair, recalling images of old men dozing through long speeches. Andrew Gilholm, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2017 Snaps of him with his head back, eyes closed, and seemingly dozing have become a meme. Alice Park / Paris, TIME, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for doze 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of doze was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near doze

Cite this Entry

“Doze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doze. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

doze

verb
ˈdōz
dozed; dozing
: to sleep lightly
doze noun
dozer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on doze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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