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Definition of drowse

drowse

/ˈdɹaʊz/
drowse
Adverb:drowsily
•
Plural:drowses
•
Adjective:drowsy
•
Past Simple:drowsed
•
Past Participle:drowsed
•
Present Participle:drowsing
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drowse Lexical Profile

drowse Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To be half asleep; to sleep lightly or intermittently.

Example

"The old dog liked to drowse in the warm patch of sunlight on the porch."

2

To pass (time) in a sleepy, sluggish, or half-awake state.

Example

"We decided to drowse the afternoon away in the shade of the willow trees."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A state of being half asleep or lightly slumbering; a brief light sleep or doze.

Example

"The rhythmic hum of the train engine lulled the tired commuters into a pleasant drowse."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for drowse

• Nearby Words

drove
drover
drown
drowse
drowsily
drowsiness
drowsy

Word Origin & Etymology

Attested since the late 16th century, probably related to Old English drusian ('to become sluggish, sink, or droop').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Drowse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/drowse
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