doze

verb \ ˈdōz \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of doze

dozed; dozing

intransitive verb

1 a : to sleep lightly

b : to fall into a light sleep —usually used with off

2 : to be in a dull or stupefied condition

transitive verb

: to pass (time) drowsily

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doze

noun

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dozer

noun

Recent Examples of doze from the Web

Every player has sat on a bus and watched frozen fields or dark highways pass outside the window, playing cards or watching movies or dozing while the hum of the wheels drones on.

— helene elliott, latimes.com, "The hockey community is leaving hockey sticks out for the Humboldt boys," 10 Apr. 2018
Passengers flying on Airbus planes will soon be able to slip down into the cargo hold for a nap, dozing off in plush berths that will initially be offered on A330 widebody aircraft.

— Bloomberg.com, "Zuckerberg Testifies Before Senate Panel," 10 Apr. 2018
The driver behind the wheel of a red pickup dozed off and crashed into a cement barricade on South Post Oak around 2 a.m., according to authorities.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Wreck involving sleeping driver leads to criminal mischief arrests," 8 Apr. 2018
But the ease of dozing through a morning commute or otherwise not paying attention to the task of controlling a car may prove so enticing as to promote longer or more frequent trips — keeping vehicles on the road more, not less.

— john gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "Driverless cars may make traffic worst, not better," 5 Apr. 2018
Investigators allege Wynter found her way outside after Parker, who works nights, dozed off inside.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "'She's Frozen': Ohio Parents Accused of Endangerment After Toddler Wanders Outside and Dies," 21 Mar. 2018
Sheriff’s Deputy Moises Carotti was known to keep an eye out for people sleeping where they weren’t supposed to — and then someone reported him dozing in his own patrol car.

— anne geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Cop accused of snoozing outside Stoneman Douglas set out to bust others — for snoozing," 27 Mar. 2018
His parents were dozing on the couch, waiting to hear from him, when two Park Police detectives knocked at 1 a.m., more than five hours after the shooting.

— tom jackman, Washington Post, "Family and friends baffled: How did a fun-loving, gun-hating, sports-crazy Buddhist wind up shot by police?," 17 Jan. 2018
That was what led to the panicky foul that conceded the second-minute free kick from which Higuain, sneaking away from a dozing defense (and slightly offside), volleyed Juve into the lead.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "Tottenham Shows Impressive Mettle at Juventus, Man City Coasts Again in UCL," 13 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'doze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.