To fall asleep gradually and unintentionally, usually in a light or brief way.
To accidentally fall asleep, usually when you're sitting down or not trying to sleep.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To fall asleep gradually and unintentionally, especially when not in bed.
"He dozed off in front of the television and missed the end of the film."
I was just dozing off when the phone rang.
— Common colloquial expression; widely attributed form across British sitcoms and literature, e.g. broadly characteristic of P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster narratives.
To drift into a doze (a light sleep) and go off into it.
To accidentally fall asleep, usually when you're sitting down or not trying to sleep.
Very common and natural in everyday English. Often implies the sleep is light and/or brief. Commonly used when someone falls asleep in front of the television, in a meeting, or on a train.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "doze off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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