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Glite Dictionary
to nod out

to nod out

2 7.9
To fall asleep by accident because you are very tired
  • phrasal verb
  • /nɑd aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : dormitar
  • He often nods out on the train during his commute, using the time to catch up on sleep.

Examples

  • During the movie, I could feel myself nod out because I had stayed up late the night before.

  • Yeah, the blues one'll make you nod out, and the yellows'll keep you going for the duration.

    Jesus' Son (2000)

  • And I was ready to nod out, or something.

    Flashdance (1983)

  • I was just going to, go over in the corner there and nod out.

    Jesus' Son (2000)

  • And they would fix and get loaded and nod out next to me.

    Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971)

  • Okay, I might have nodded out a little.

    Gas (2004)

  • She usually nodded out on me.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I don't nod out or drool.

    Fletch (1985)

  • But when Jodie/Iris comes on, those who ain't nodded out yet get quiet.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • And when Lana used to nod out in front of Lucy and Lucy didn't have a clue.

    Working Girls (1987)

Synonyms

to fall asleep
vsto nod out
376 1.0

To start sleeping

often happens because of exhaustion or unintentionally, not only normal sleep onset
to doze
vsto nod out
43 2.3

To sleep lightly for a short time without meaning to

is commonly due to extreme tiredness rather than a casual daytime rest
to doze off
vsto nod out
  • Informal
35 2.7

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

usually follows heavy fatigue rather than a gentle daytime rest
to drift off
vsto nod out
23 3.8

To slowly fall asleep without meaning to

is more likely after extreme tiredness rather than a slow, gentle process
to slumber
vsto nod out
15 3.8

To sleep lightly or peacefully

is usually unintentional and fatigue driven rather than calm, peaceful rest
to nod off
vsto nod out
  • Informal
12 4.1

To fall asleep for a short time without meaning to

often follows extreme tiredness and can last longer than a brief nap
out like a light
vsto nod out
  • Informal
7 7.3

To fall asleep or become unconscious very quickly

tends to occur from exhaustion rather than the extreme, instantaneous collapse
to conk out
vsto nod out
  • Informal
7 8.1

To stop working suddenly or to fall asleep because of tiredness

usually means sleeping from exhaustion rather than mechanical failure or break
to snooze
vsto nod out
7 2.1

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

often follows deep exhaustion rather than being a planned brief refreshment
to drop off
vsto nod out
  • Informal
5 3.0

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

tends to result from exhaustion and can be deeper or longer
to drowse
vsto nod out
2 6.1

To be half asleep for a short time

usually leads from deep exhaustion rather than gentle, semi awake relaxation
to zonk out
vsto nod out
  • Informal
2 8.3

To fall asleep or pass out very quickly because you are very tired

is usually less sudden and can follow regular tiredness rather than collapse
to flake out
vsto nod out
  • Informal
1 7.6

To fall asleep suddenly because you are very tired

often follows exhaustion rather than being mainly about loss of focus or absence
to drowse off
vsto nod out
5.5

To begin to fall asleep without meaning to

often follows heavy exhaustion rather than just light, quiet sleepiness
to catch some z's
vsto nod out
  • Informal
8.9

To sleep for a short time

often implies exhaustion sleep rather than a choice to take a quick casual nap

Antonyms

to wake up
∞ 1.0

To stop sleeping or make someone else stop sleeping

to keep up
24 3.0

To stop someone from sleeping by making them stay awake

How Deeply Asleep

to conk out
  • Informal
7 8.1
to nod out
  • Informal
2 7.9
to nod off
  • Informal
12 4.1
to doze off
  • Informal
35 2.7

Surface Forms

nod out infinitive
nodded out past
nodded out past participle
nodding out present participle
nods out third person singular

Morphology

nod + out

Both constituents contribute directly: 'nod' already carries the sense of dozing/head drooping and 'out' adds a sense of becoming fully unconscious or shut down, so together they predictably mean 'fall asleep' unintentionally. This verb+particle composition is a regular, compositional pattern in English (similar to 'nod off'/'drop off'), so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Nod out comes from a simple picture: a very tired person starts to nod, and their head drops out of an upright position as they start to sleep. So nod out means 'to fall asleep', often without meaning to.