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Glite Dictionary
to drowse off

to drowse off

5.5
To begin to fall asleep without meaning to
  • phrasal verb
  • /draʊz ɔf/
translation icon : dormitar
  • Instead of drowsing off to Boboland because they're bored to tears by educational stories like regular kids, they get all fired up because there is a mystery to solve, and they can help their new BFF.

Examples

  • The lecture was so dull that many students drowsed off during it.

  • Without Lucian's continued prodding, Fronto would have drowsed off.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known.

    Fiction book (1993)

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

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After a long day at work, I drowsed off on the couch while watching TV.

  • Feeling the warmth of the sun, she drowsed off under the tree.

Synonyms

to fall asleep
vsto drowse off
376 1.0

To start sleeping

specifies a gradual, often unintended descent into sleep rather than a simple start
to doze
vsto drowse off
43 2.3

To sleep lightly for a short time without meaning to

describes the process of slowly falling asleep rather than the light sleep state
to doze off
vsto drowse off
  • Informal
35 2.7

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

emphasizes gradual onset more than brief, accidental sleeping episodes
to drift off
vsto drowse off
23 3.8

To slowly fall asleep without meaning to

is the same gradual, unintentional falling into sleep rather than an instant start
to nod off
vsto drowse off
  • Informal
12 4.1

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

highlights a slower, unnoticed drift into sleep rather than just a short nap
to snooze
vsto drowse off
7 2.1

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

centres on the act of gradually falling asleep rather than the light nap itself
to drop off
vsto drowse off
  • Informal
5 3.0

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

stresses a slow, gradual onset rather than simply a brief unintended nap
to nod out
vsto drowse off
  • Informal
2 7.9

To fall asleep by accident because you are very tired

focuses on gradual slipping into sleep rather than exhaustion causing sleep

Antonyms

to stay up
  • Informal
253 2.4

To be awake later than usual

to stay alert
28 3.4

To watch carefully so you notice danger or changes

How Sleepy

sleep
∞ 1.0
to nod off
  • Informal
12 4.1
to drowse off
5.5

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

drowse + off

The meaning 'to gradually fall asleep' is directly derivable from combining 'drowse' (to be half-asleep) with the particle 'off', which signals a transition into that state. This follows a common English verb + particle pattern (compare doze off), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Drowse off comes from a simple image: the verb drowse means to be half-asleep and the particle off shows a slow move away from being awake, like your eyes closing and your attention drifting away. That's why drowse off means 'to gradually fall asleep'.