drowse

verb

drowsed; drowsing
Synonyms of drowsenext

intransitive verb

1
: to be inactive
2
: to fall into a light slumber

transitive verb

1
: to make drowsy or inactive
2
: to pass (time) drowsily or in drowsing

Examples of drowse in a Sentence

picnickers drowsing in the shade of an oak tree
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some shaggy buffalo drowsed in a patch of shade, and a hose fed water into a large puddle where a white goose paddled in tight circles. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026 The dog, Russ, drowsed on the floor at his owner’s feet, drooling onto the tile. Literary Hub, 11 May 2026 Bear in mind that those 55 million impressions were totted up long before Nielsen began counting scores of drowsing aunts and hyperactive toddlers among its national TV deliveries. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2025 The feast is digested by now at our house and the tryptophan is kicking in, but the late game is too good to drowse on. Miami Herald, 25 Nov. 2025 Stars lounged and drowsed: Muhammad Ali with a newspaper, Peter Cook in his old mac on a lilo in a Hollywood pool. The Economist, 21 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

probably akin to Goth driusan to fall — more at dreary

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drowse was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drowse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drowse. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

drowse

verb
ˈdrau̇z
drowsed; drowsing
: doze
drowse noun

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