drowsy

adjective \ ˈdrau̇-zē \

|Updated on: 26 Jul 2018

Examples: drowsy in a Sentence

Definition of drowsy

drowsier; drowsiest

1 a : ready to fall asleep

The pills made her drowsy.

b : inducing or tending to induce sleep

drowsy music

c : indolent, lethargic

drowsy bureaucrats

2 : giving the appearance of peaceful inactivity

a drowsy village

—

drowsily

play \-zə-lē\ adverb

—

drowsiness

play \-zē-nəs\ noun

See drowsy defined for English-language learners

See drowsy defined for kids

Examples of drowsy in a Sentence

We spent a drowsy afternoon by the pool.
the drowsy students shuffled into the first-period class

Recent Examples of drowsy from the Web

Entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on busy workplaces filled with drowsy staffers who don't get enough sleep recently have started marketing power-napping booths to businesses.

— eric scott, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Office sleep pods are here, but is dozing off at work really a thing?," 11 July 2018
To help spread awareness about the dangerous effects that fatigue can have on drivers, Short is travelling to a few cities this summer conducting drowsy driving simulations.

— NBC News, "How to tell if you're too tired to drive — and what to do if you are," 8 July 2018
Musically, both singles inventively reclaimed the sound of uplift in a generally drowsy pop-rap era.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Why Drake Can’t Pull Off Being the ‘Good Guy’," 5 July 2018
Now, drowsy, sprawling McCordsville is trying to settle the type of noise dispute more common in dense big cities.

— john tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Concerts at winery strike sour note with neighbors in McCordsville," 22 June 2018
These modern engines run like a pack of Australian shepherds — efficient, quiet and even drowsy, until something needs to be chased.

— kyle stock, chicagotribune.com, "Replacement for displacement has arrived in small engines making a whole lotta horsepower," 19 June 2018
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles later posted the graphic video on Facebook as an example of the importance of not driving while tired or drowsy.

— lilly price, USA TODAY, "Fatigued Florida man survives violent car crash into toll booth. It was caught on video," 12 June 2018
Despite his wound, the victim kept trying to stand up, the witness said, and appeared to be drowsy and possibly intoxicated.

— marie simoneaux, NOLA.com, "'Stupid drug thing' sparks Claiborne Avenue shooting," 2 June 2018
But motifs of blue whales flying above piers to tattoos on movie stars work to defy drowsy stereotypes.

— danielle fox, ELLE Decor, "Martyn Lawrence Bullard Gives the Hotel Californian a Dose of Funk," 29 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of drowsy

see ¹drowse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

drowsy Synonyms

DROWSY Defined for English Language Learners

drowsy

adjective

Definition of drowsy for English Language Learners

: tired and ready to fall asleep
: causing you to feel relaxed and ready to sleep

DROWSY Defined for Kids

drowsy

adjective \ ˈdrau̇-zē \

Definition of drowsy for Students

drowsier; drowsiest

1 : ready to fall asleep

2 : causing sleepiness

drowsy music

—

drowsily

\-zə-lē\ adverb

“Lights out,” said the Centipede drowsily.
—Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach

—

drowsiness

\-zē-nəs\ noun

Medical Dictionary

drowsy

adjective \ ˈdrau̇-zē \

medical Definition of drowsy

drowsier; drowsiest

: ready to fall asleep : sleepy

—

drowsily

play \-zə-lē\ adverb

—

drowsiness

play \-zē-nəs\ noun

Learn More about drowsy

See words that rhyme with drowsy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for drowsy Spanish Central: Translation of drowsy Nglish: Translation of drowsy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of drowsy for Arabic speakers

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drowsy

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DROWSY Defined for English Language Learners

drowsy

Definition of drowsy for English Language Learners

DROWSY Defined for Kids

drowsy

Definition of drowsy for Students

drowsily

drowsiness

Medical Dictionary

drowsy

medical Definition of drowsy

drowsily

drowsiness

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