What does doze mean?
To doze is to sleep lightly or fitfully, typically for a brief period and often without intending to fall fully asleep. A person might doze in a chair, on a train, or during a dull lecture, drifting in and out of consciousness rather than settling into deep rest. The word also functions as a noun, as in 'an afternoon doze,' meaning a short spell of light sleep. Its tone is casual and gentle, making it warmer than clinical terms like 'sleep' and softer than 'snooze' or 'nap' in some contexts. The common phrasal verb 'doze off' describes the moment of slipping into such light sleep, often involuntarily. Derived forms include 'dozed,' 'dozing,' and the agent noun 'dozer.' Etymologists trace 'doze' to early modern English, possibly influenced by Old Norse, and it shares distant Germanic roots with words like 'drowse' and 'drowsy.' It remains a familiar, everyday word across British and American usage.
To sleep lightly or fitfully for a short period.
"The cat dozed contentedly in the patch of afternoon sunlight."
A short, light sleep.
"He woke from his doze feeling slightly disoriented."
Used chiefly in phrases like 'afternoon dozes' or 'brief dozes'; the plural is uncommon compared to the singular.
"Her afternoons were punctuated by short dozes on the porch."
The word 'doze' likely drifted into English from Old Norse, carried by Vikings who apparently knew a thing or two about nodding off by the fire.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doze
The verb 'doze' appears in English around the early seventeenth century, though its precise origins are uncertain. Many etymologists connect it to Old Norse 'dúsa,' meaning 'to doze or sit quietly by the fire,' which would make it one of the many everyday words English borrowed from Scandinavian settlers. It is distantly related to other Germanic sleep-words such as 'drowse' and 'drowsy,' all pointing to a shared Germanic root associated with drowsiness.
Related word forms
How doze is actually used
Informal to neutral in register. The phrasal verb 'doze off' is especially common in everyday speech and means to fall asleep unintentionally or gradually. The noun form is less common than the verb.
Easily confused with doze
A 'dose' is a measured amount of medicine, while 'doze' means to sleep lightly.