snooze
snooze — verb
- snoozepresent simple I / you / we / they
- snoozesthird person singular
- snoozedpast tense
- snoozingpresent participle
1. to fall asleep for a few minutes in the daytime or while you are sitting somewhe
to fall asleep for a few minutes in the daytime or while you are sitting somewhere, instead of going to bed for a proper sleep.
Lakshmi snoozed in the back seat during the long drive home.
snooze + in + place during travel
On the flight to Taipei, Christopher snoozed with his coat over his face.
light sleep while travelling
The tired guard snoozed in his chair while the lobby stayed quiet.
After lunch, Ines snoozed on the sofa before the repair crew arrived.
- snooze in the car
- snooze on the sofa
- snooze during the flight
- snooze after lunch
- wake up
to stop sleeping
- stay awake
to remain conscious instead of sleeping
Grammar Patterns
snooze
snooze + in/on + place
snooze + during + journey/event
Usage Note
This verb usually suggests a brief, light sleep in a chair, car, or other temporary place rather than a full night's rest in bed.
Common Mistakes
snooze — noun
- snoozesingular
- snoozesplural
1. a brief rest when you sleep for a little while, often during the day or while si
a brief rest when you sleep for a little while, often during the day or while sitting somewhere.
Ayana grabbed a quick snooze on the office sofa before her night shift.
grab a quick snooze
During the delay, several passengers had a snooze beside their bags.
Eitan came home early and took a snooze before cooking dinner.
take a snooze
The toddler needed a snooze after swimming at the crowded pool.
- quick snooze
- afternoon snooze
- have a snooze
- take a snooze
Grammar Patterns
have a snooze
take a snooze
Usage Note
This noun is most often used in the patterns 'have a snooze' and 'take a snooze' for a brief rest during the day.
Common Mistakes
2. the part of an alarm clock that stops the ringing for a short time before the so
the part of an alarm clock that stops the ringing for a short time before the sound starts again.
Maeve hit the snooze and buried her face in the pillow.
hit the snooze
The snooze on Hao's alarm gives him eight extra minutes.
the snooze on an alarm
Half awake, the student pressed snooze before the second ringing stopped.
press snooze
Paloma disabled the snooze so the alarm would not return.
- hit the snooze
- press snooze
- turn off the snooze
- alarm snooze
- snooze button
full form; more explicit than snooze on its own
Grammar Patterns
hit the snooze
press snooze
turn off the snooze
Usage Note
This sense is tied to alarms and is commonly used with verbs like 'hit', 'press', and 'turn off'. It names the control, not the sleep itself.
Common Mistakes
3. a film, meeting, book, or other thing that is so dull it almost makes you fall a
a film, meeting, book, or other thing that is so dull it almost makes you fall asleep.
That three-hour budget meeting was a complete snooze for everyone.
be a complete snooze
Even Darius could not finish the documentary because it was such a snooze.
The sequel turned into a snooze once the jokes stopped working.
turn into a snooze
With no music or photos, the lecture felt like a snooze.
- complete snooze
- real snooze
- such a snooze
- total snooze
- thrill
something exciting and enjoyable
Grammar Patterns
be a snooze
turn into a snooze
Usage Note
This informal sense is used to judge an event, performance, book, or film as boring enough to make people sleepy.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Snooze' suggests a light, often casual sleep for a few minutes, especially while sitting somewhere or travelling. 'Nap' is the broader word for a short sleep and can be planned, while 'doze' often emphasizes drifting in and out of sleep.
Common collocations
Nouns
- snooze button
Verbs
- snooze lightly
Phrases
- hit the snooze
- take a snooze
- have a snooze
Etymology
First known use
1785
1785, in the meaning defined above Noun