drowse 1 of 2

Definition of drowsenext
as in nap
a short sleep was just falling into a drowse when you called

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drowse

2 of 2

verb

as in to nap
to sleep lightly or briefly picnickers drowsing in the shade of an oak tree

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of drowse
Noun
The wealthy suburb of Phoenix drowses in the heat of the Sonoran Desert, sprinkled with luxury resorts catering to snowbirds in what Arizonans call the Valley of the Sun. Lynette Rice, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2019
Verb
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 Jena looked over at the man’s camel, drowsing alongside the tent. Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowse
Noun
  • The resort offers programs for kids, tweens, and teens, including a new morning program for three- to five-year-olds (leaving time for naps in the afternoon).
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • One was a kid taking a nap on some chairs at a party.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • College students in Indiana will have time off from classes to can relax, pick up more hours at their jobs or jet-set off to a hotspot spring break destination (Florida, probably).
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The design hugs the ankle before relaxing into a gentle slouch through the leg.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Seahawks used a first-round bye to rest, heal and prepare, and then routed the 49ers in a divisional-round game before beating the Rams, 31-27, to advance to the Super Bowl.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • There have been no such incidents this year, but there has been plenty of on-court drama that only international team tennis — with home and away ties, and a slot just after a Grand Slam that sees many nations’ top stars resting — can provide.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In fact, on many nights I could be found dozing in the chair with her tiny body curled onto my chest.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Shot in gorgeous widescreen (an unusual format for documentaries), the movie catalogs all the way people behave around what appears to be a single bear, first seen dozing with her two cubs.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The supermassive black hole sitting at the heart of our galaxy is considered to be a slumbering giant.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • In a mood to slumber all day, to the tune of conversations held by cartoon mice?
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drowse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowse. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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