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Glite Dictionary
😴 To sleep lightly 😴 A light sleep
to drowse

to drowse

2 6.1
To be half asleep for a short time
  • verb
  • /draʊz/
translation icon : dormitar
  • After a long day, I sat on the couch and began to drowse for a few minutes.
  • began to drowse
  • drowsed again
  • drowsed and woke

Examples

  • Through spring and summer, he drowsed on the doorstep.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Living in these insular, mostly Jewish towns was like being suspended on a raft above still water, drowsing on a hot day.

    Academic text (2008)

  • I turned back again toward the window and began to drowse.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Fidel, beginning to drowse, hears the whistle again.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • A messenger boy sat drowsing at the desk, his head cradled in his arms.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Tray lay at her feet, rump turned to the heat of the stove, drowsing.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • By afternoon, the aisles are nearly empty and the sellers drowse in their stalls, complaining of boredom.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Then I got beneath the blue-sprigged quilt and drowsed off quickly.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Shang drowses in the boat, fighting fatigue, then succumbing to it.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I stole a look down the length of the mews, where the hawks drowsed on their perches.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

to doze
vsto drowse
43 2.3

To sleep lightly for a short time without meaning to

is the same light sleep but can emphasize being half awake
to doze off
vsto drowse
  • Informal
35 2.7

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

is similar but can also mean staying half awake rather than fully sleeping
to drift off
vsto drowse
23 3.8

To slowly fall asleep without meaning to

is the resulting light sleep state rather than the gradual process
to nap
vsto drowse
23 1.0

To sleep for a short time during the day

is closer to a half asleep condition rather than a brief full sleep
to slumber
vsto drowse
15 3.8

To sleep lightly or peacefully

is more narrowly about being half asleep or briefly dozing rather than full rest
to nod off
vsto drowse
  • Informal
12 4.1

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

is similar but can also describe a gentle, ongoing half sleep
to snooze
vsto drowse
7 2.1

To sleep lightly for a short time, often during the day

is similar but stresses being only partly asleep rather than an actual nap
to drop off
vsto drowse
  • Informal
5 3.0

To fall asleep for a short time, often without meaning to

is the lighter, sometimes half awake state rather than just falling asleep
to nod out
vsto drowse
  • Informal
2 7.9

To fall asleep by accident because you are very tired

is the light sleep experience itself rather than sleep from extreme tiredness
to catnap
vsto drowse
1 4.4

To sleep for a short time during the day not in bed

is similar but often refers to being partly asleep rather than a complete rest
to flake out
vsto drowse
  • Informal
1 7.6

To fall asleep suddenly because you are very tired

is a milder, lighter sleep state rather than a sudden collapse into sleep
drowsing
vsto drowse
4.1

Feeling half asleep and relaxed while sitting or resting

is the action or brief experience of falling into light sleep
to drowse off
vsto drowse
5.5

To begin to fall asleep without meaning to

is broader, including simply being lightly asleep rather than the falling process

Antonyms

to wake
∞ 1.0

To stop sleeping or make someone else stop sleeping

to energize
  • US
65 3.7

To make someone feel more active and alert

Phrasal Verbs

to drowse off
5.5

To begin to fall asleep without meaning to

How Sleepy

to sleep
∞ 1.0
to slumber
15 3.8
to drowse
2 6.1
to drift off
23 3.8

Surface Forms

drowse infinitive
drowsed past
drowsed past participle
drowsing present participle
drowses third person singular

Etymology

Drowse comes from an old English word meaning 'to be sleepy' and is related to the common words doze and drowsy. So to drowse is to sleep lightly or be half asleep.