doze
B2Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To sleep lightly and/or for a short period, often unintentionally or in a sitting/resting position.
A state of light, fitful sleep; also used figuratively for a state of inattentiveness or dormancy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a semi-conscious, often restful state between wakefulness and proper sleep. Often suggests unintended or brief sleep, sometimes with the body still upright.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences; both varieties use the verb and noun forms identically.
Connotations
Neutral and similar in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, particularly in the phrase "doze off"; still perfectly standard and understood in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
doze (intransitive)doze off (intransitive)doze (for) (a period of time)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “doze off (to fall asleep lightly, often unintentionally)”
- “catch forty winks (informal for a short sleep)”
- “in a doze (in a state of light sleep or inattentiveness)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, but could be used in informal contexts: 'He dozed off during the long meeting.'
Academic
Very rare in formal academic prose.
Everyday
Common in everyday conversation to describe light, unintended sleep: 'I'll just doze on the sofa for a bit.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I think I'll doze in the armchair until dinner.
- He dozed fitfully through the afternoon lecture.
American English
- She dozed on the porch swing for a good hour.
- I always doze during long car rides.
adverb
British English
- No established adverbial form derived from 'doze'.
American English
- No established adverbial form derived from 'doze'.
adjective
British English
- No common adjectival form. 'Dozing' is the present participle: 'The dozing cat twitched its whiskers.'
American English
- No common adjectival form. 'Dozing' is the present participle: 'A dozing student nodded off in class.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby dozes in her pram.
- He likes to doze on the sofa.
- I often doze off while watching television in the evening.
- After lunch, she had a quick doze.
- The train journey was so monotonous that I kept dozing and waking.
- He was caught in a light doze when the phone rang.
- The company had been dozing in a comfortable market position and failed to see the new competition emerging.
- She fell into a pleasant doze, lulled by the sound of the rain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'dozing' as a gentle 'doze' between 'awake' and 'deep sleep'. The 'z' in the middle suggests the 'zzz' sound of light snoring.
Conceptual Metaphor
INATTENTIVENESS IS DOZING (e.g., 'The committee's investigation had been dozing for years.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing with 'спать', which is general 'to sleep'; 'doze' is specifically light, often unintentional sleep, better translated as 'дремать'.
- The noun 'doze' should be translated as 'дремота', not 'сон'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrectly using as a transitive verb (e.g., 'I dozed the baby'). It is intransitive.
- Confusing 'doze' with 'doze off' – 'doze' describes the state, 'doze off' describes the action of falling into that state.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes someone who has just 'dozed off'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'nap' is more intentional and planned, often taken to refresh oneself. 'Doze' is lighter, less intentional, and can happen while sitting up or in an inappropriate place.
No, it can also be a noun (e.g., 'I had a quick doze'), but the verb form is more common.
Yes, for example: 'He was dozing when the alarm sounded.'
It's neutral to informal. It's perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation and informal writing but is less common in very formal or technical contexts.