dozy

/ˈdəʊzi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdəʊzi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdō-zē/ (ame, mw)

dozy — adjective

  • dozypositive
  • doziercomparative
  • doziestsuperlative

1. feeling so tired that your eyes keep closing and you are close to falling asleep

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling so tired that your eyes keep closing and you are close to falling asleep

例句

The night-shift nurse felt dozy after her twelfth hour on duty.

predicative: feel dozy

On the warm bus, the children grew dozy and leaned against their mother.

predicative: grow dozy

同義詞
  • sleepy

    the most common everyday word; weaker than dozy — you can be sleepy without being about to fall asleep

  • drowsy

    slightly more formal; often used for sleepiness caused by medicine or warmth

  • lethargic

    emphasises lack of energy rather than the urge to sleep; more formal

反義詞
  • alert

    fully awake and paying attention

  • energetic

    full of energy and ready to act

文法句型

feel + dozy

look + dozy

grow + dozy

用法筆記

Common in British English; less frequently heard in American English, where 'sleepy' or 'drowsy' are more typical.

常見錯誤

❌I am dozy to go to bed now.
✅I feel dozy and want to go to bed now.
💡'dozy' describes how you feel, not what you intend to do.

2. slow to see, hear, or understand what is going on around you, especially because

2.形容詞B2
釋義

slow to see, hear, or understand what is going on around you, especially because you are tired or not fully awake

例句

The dozy driver took a wrong turn and ended up in a field.

attributive: a dozy [person]

Still dozy from the pain medicine, Ethan answered the same question twice.

dozy from + cause

同義詞
  • sluggish

    emphasises slow physical or mental response; can be used for machines and systems too

  • groggy

    specifically slow and confused after just waking up, illness, or anaesthetic

  • inattentive

    focuses on not paying attention; does not imply tiredness

反義詞
  • sharp

    quick to notice and understand things

  • alert

    fully aware of what is happening around you

文法句型

too dozy to + verb

dozy from + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (TIRED AND SLEEPY): this sense is about slow thinking or reaction, not about feeling close to falling asleep. Often used for someone who misses obvious things or reacts late, especially when tired.

常見錯誤

❌He is dozy — he never understands maths.
✅He was dozy after the long drive and missed the turning.
💡sense 2 describes a temporary state caused by tiredness, not permanent lack of intelligence.