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Doze off: meaning, definitions and examples

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doze off

[ dəʊz ɒf ]

Verb

^{Context #1 | Verb}

intransitive

To fall into a light sleep unintentionally for a short period of time, especially during the day.

Synonyms

drift off, fall asleep, nod off.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
doze off	Used when someone gradually falls asleep, often unintentionally and in a relaxed manner. Commonly used when the person is sitting or resting. I always doze off during long meetings. She dozed off while watching TV last night.
nod off	Usually used to describe someone falling asleep briefly or unintentionally, often while sitting and trying to stay awake. It can sometimes imply an embarrassing situation. He keeps nodding off during his afternoon work. She nodded off in the middle of the conversation.
drift off	Used when someone begins to fall asleep gently, often daydreaming or moving slowly into sleep. It suggests a more peaceful and gradual transition. He drifted off while listening to the sound of the rain. I could see her eyes drifting off as the lecture continued.
fall asleep	A general term for beginning to sleep. It does not specify the manner or place and is neutral in its usage. I need to fall asleep early tonight. She took a long time to fall asleep after watching the scary movie.

Examples of usage

I often doze off while watching TV in the evening.
She dozed off during the boring lecture.
He dozed off in the sun on the deck.
They dozed off after a big meal.
We dozed off on the train ride home.

Translations

Translations of the word "doze off" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cochilar

🇮🇳 झपकी लेना

🇩🇪 einschlafen

🇮🇩 tertidur

🇺🇦 дрімати

🇵🇱 przysnąć

🇯🇵 うたた寝する (utatane suru)

🇫🇷 s'assoupir

🇪🇸 quedarse dormido

🇹🇷 uyuklamak

🇰🇷 졸다 (jolda)

🇸🇦 يغفو (yaghfu)

🇨🇿 zdřímnout si

🇸🇰 zdriemnuť si

🇨🇳 打瞌睡 (dǎ kēshuì)

🇸🇮 zadremati

🇮🇸 dotta

🇰🇿 қалғып кету

🇬🇪 ჩაძინება (chadzineba)

🇦🇿 yuxulamaq

🇲🇽 quedarse dormido

Etymology

The phrase 'doze off' originated from the Middle English word 'dos', which means to be drowsy or half-asleep. Over time, the addition of 'off' emphasized the act of falling into a light sleep. The expression has been used for centuries to describe the act of unintentionally drifting into a brief nap, especially during quiet or monotonous activities.