verb
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snooze
snooz
Snooze (verb) means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. Example: “I snoozed on the sofa for twenty minutes after lunch.”
verb
1
To sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
"I snoozed on the sofa for twenty minutes after lunch."
"The cat snoozed in the sun all afternoon."
noun
1
The button on an alarm clock that delays the alarm by a few minutes.
"He hit the snooze button three times before finally getting up."
How to use snooze
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick, light sleep — or the button that buys you a few more minutes of one.
Common pairings
hit snooze
take a snooze
snooze button
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Word forms
- Plural
- snoozes
- Third person singular
- snoozes
- Past tense
- snoozed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ on the sofa for twenty minutes after lunch.
Etymology
Of unknown origin, attested since the 18th century. Compare Dutch snoezelen (“to snooze”) or Swedish snusa (“to snore lightly”), and also Ancient Greek νυστάζω (nustázō, “to doze, drowse”) and Russian сон (son, “sleep, dream”).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for snooze
See all rhymes for snooze →Frequently asked questions
What does “snooze” mean?
The word “snooze” means to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap. In plain terms, a quick, light sleep — or the button that buys you a few more minutes of one.
How do you pronounce “snooze”?
“Snooze” is pronounced snooz (/snuːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “snooze” in a sentence?
Here is “snooze” used in a sentence: “I snoozed on the sofa for twenty minutes after lunch.”
What part of speech is “snooze”?
Depending on how it is used, “snooze” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “snooze” have?
“Snooze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
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